Mohammad Ashique Kuruniyan, a product of FC Pune City's academy, has been selected by LaLiga club Villarreal CF to play in their third team on loan. The stint will mean Kuruniyan becomes the first home grown Indian academy player to be hired by a major club in Spain.
Kuruniyan, who operates as a winger but can also play anywhere along the forward line, has represented India at both the Under-19 as well as Under-18 levels, even scoring a solo goal in the FAM-Frenz Asia Champions Trophy.
Kuruniyan, who comes from Mallapuram in Kerala, said that he was looking forward to interacting with his new team-mates in Spain, and that training in a new and improved facility would only do his game good.
"This is a dream come true. All these years, we would admire these top clubs and their players from afar, but thanks to FC Pune City and Villarreal, I will get a chance to play at one of the most respected clubs in Spain," he said.
"I enjoy dribbling and crossing and I normally play as a left-winger. Internationally, I have always looked up to Neymar and Angel Di Maria.
"The thing I am most excited about is how I will interact with their players, their coaches, and I'm also looking forward to seeing what facilities they have to offer. I have never been to Europe, though I have been to countries like Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand and Palestine with the Under-19 team."
Villarreal's president Fernando Roig and LaLiga president Javier Tebas both stated that Kuruniyan's selection was part of a larger plan of identifying young talents from India, and giving them a chance to play abroad.
"Villarreal CF was more than happy to absorb Ashique Kuruniyan in their side because we saw the spark in him," Roig said. "Our coaches will work on him and we will aim to realise his true potential. His development as a player is given and this will only bode well for football in India in general."