Indian Super League: Controversial Adrian Mutu is FC Pune City’s Marquee Player

Adrian Mutu, the controversial Belgian striker whose career was hampered by drug abuse, has joined the Indian Super League. FC Pune City has signed the former Juventus and Fiorentina player for the 2015 season as teams continue to sign up 30-plus players as their marquee players. Atletico de Kolkata signed up 32-year-old Portuguese World Cupper Helder Postiga on Wednesday. FC Pune City bolstered their team with a clutch of upcoming Indian youngsters during the auction recently. Thirty-six-year-old Mutu is expected to add experience in a squad that will also have Ivory Coast’s most-capped player Didier Zokora. Thirty-four-year old defender Zokora has played 123 games for his nation, including two World Cups. Mutu’s impressive CV has often been blotted by drug scandals. He was off-loaded by Chelsea in 2004 after failing a drug test. He also received a seven-month ban and a 20,000-Pound fine from the Football Association. The ban ended on May 18, 2005. After the Italian football scandal, during which Juventus were relegated, Mutu joined Fiorentina, for whom he played five years. The talismanic Mutu scored more than 160 goals and was the Romanian Footballer of the Year for a record four times. Mutu was also the Coppa Italia top scorer in the year 2009-10. He last played for his Romanian club Petrolul Ploie?ti in 2013-14. Pune will give him a fresh lease of life. “This certainly will be one of the biggest challenges of my career so far and I look forward to it. The team has gathered some quality signings from India as well as abroad and excellent backroom staff will make us (FC Pune City) an exciting side,” said Mutu. Pune head coach, David Platt said, “Adrian has experience at the highest level and a professional motivation to succeed. I’ve admired him from afar for some years and am very excited at the prospect of us working together for the benefit of FC Pune City.” Zokora, expressed his happiness to sign up with FC Pune City. “I have played in many countries before and every country has presented a new challenge. I am sure this journey to India will be exciting and memorable one for me. I hope I can help my team become champions.”