It is a surreal feeling for Florentin Pogba after signing a two-year contract with Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan.
After officially signing the contract, Pogba spoke to the ATK Mohun Bagan media team.
“ATK Mohun Bagan is a club with a strong fan base and it is a great feeling for me to play in Indian football with this club. I know the weight of this shirt and I’m looking forward to the day I can play for the club,” said Pogba.
The Guinea international joined the Mariners from Ligue 2 side FC Sochaux-Montbeliard, making 63 appearances. He has also played for St-Etienne before, who will play in Ligue 2 this year after being relegated last season.
READ: ATK Mohun Bagan signs Florentin Pogba on two-year contract
Paul Pogba announced the news by wishing his brother Florentin the best of luck on social media before he joined club ISL.
ATKMB head coach Juan Ferrando has reason to rejoice as his latest signing is a versatile addition to the Mariners’ backline. In addition to the usual central defender position, he can also play as a left-back.
“Pogba is a determined player and he always tries to give his best. As a coach, it’s good to have a player who is always ready to get out of his comfort zone. He can create attacking opportunities from a defensive position and from what I’ve seen, his ability to pass the passes that split the defence will benefit us. In addition, the ability to read danger and block any threat of enemy attack is a valuable asset,” said Ferrando.
A new challenge
For Florentin Pogba, Indian football is an unknown arena but deciding to play for ATKMB was not a difficult one.
“India is a new country for me and the main reason behind coming here is to accept a new challenge. ISL is a championship I don’t know much about so it’s important for me to get to know the other teams. ATKMB is a club that is not only known in India but also a respected name in Asian football. So it’s a huge honor for me to play for a club that has had so much success throughout the years. “
Despite not knowing much about the ISL, the Guinea international does not fully understand the league and Indian football in general.
“I still have a lot to know about ISL and Indian football in general. However, I spoke with Nicholas Anelka and Roberto Pires about the Indian league and football and from what they have said, football is a beloved sport in the country. “
It’s all about the fans
Kolkata is often referred to as the ‘Mecca of Indian Football.’ It’s a city that breathes football. The most recent sign was the support the Indian national team had when it played an Asian Cup qualifier against Cambodia, Afghanistan and Hong Kong at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Playing for a giant club like ATK Mohun Bagan is like two sides of the same coin – one side brings a wave of love and support from the fans but like any other big club, pressure the force of expectations from fans. The emotions of the fans fluctuated, but Florentin did not waver.
READ: Parag Shrivas signs new three-year contract with Bengaluru FC
“The fans are the heart of any club and it is our aim to move forward with them. I have always loved playing in a stadium full of fans and it is a good feeling to know that I will cherish that feeling at this club as well. I can’t wait to play in front of the passionate fans of Green and Maroon.”
“Fans should know how proud I am to be a Mariner. I promise them that I will do my best to win the title and make our fans happy.”
