Indian Super League team Odisha FC have completed the signing of Diego Mauricio – the Brazilian star striker. The signing comes ahead of the seventh season of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). Mauricio, who has also played along with the likes of Ronaldinho and Neymar, joins the club on a one year contract as Odisha FC celebrates the completion of a year.
Mauricio, currently 29, made his debut in Brazil’s Flamengo in 2010, where he linked up with Ronaldinho. He has played for several Brazilian teams like Sport Club do Recife, Bragantino and Centro Sportivo Alagoano. He was also a part of the Under-20 team that had Phillipe Coutinho, Casemiro, Oscar, Felipe Anderson, Firmino and Neymar.
Over the course of his career, he has toured the world by playing for South Korea’s Busan IPark and Gangwon FC, Al Qadisiyah in Saudi Arabia, Vitoria FC in Portugal, Russia’s FC Spartak Vladikavkaz and Chinese club Shijiazhuang Ever Bright FC.
Head coach Stuart Baxter, excited with the recruitment of Mauricio, said, “He is a player who can both combine with his teammates and also create chances on his own. When he gets to know the squad he will be a major asset for us.” Mauricio reciprocated the hope and said that he is coming with the intention to win the league.
Dr Anil Sharma, CEO and Founder of GMS, also shared his views on the occasion. “Hello, Odisha. It was one year ago that we decided to move from the political capital to the sports capital. It was not an easy move, and a lot of options were available. However, the shift to Odisha convinced us. It became a home for us in India, and as a football club has been welcomed by the fans, government, and the people of Odisha. We are thankful for this love. Keep on supporting us, we hope to bring the trophy home this year,” he said.
In the 2019-20 season, Odisha FC ranked 6th out of the 10 competing teams. They would surely hope to improve this season having made a host of stellar signings during the ongoing transfer window.