Kerala teen signed by Spanish football club

Kochi: History beckons 19-year-old Ashique Kuruniyan as he is set to become the first Malayali footballer to sign up for a European club.

The teenager from Pattarukadavu in Malappuram will join, Spanish club Villarreal CF on a short-term loan from his parent club FC Pune City, in November.

The India U-19 international is expected to join the third team of Villarreal, most likely for a period of two-and-a-half months. Villarreal CF is currently fourth in the La Liga behind Real Madrid, Sevilla and Barcelona.

The development comes within a few weeks of 18-year-old Kashmiri Ishan Pandita becoming the first Indian to sign a professional contract with a La Liga club, when he struck a deal with newly promoted CD Leganes.

“I realise the importance of the chance I have received and I know if I do good there it will open a door of opportunities for not just me, but several young footballers in our country,” a delighted Kuruniyan told this newspaper. Kuruniyan will fly to Spain on November 7.

The left-footed midfielder, who considers dribbling and crossing his strengths, is a huge fan of Argentina and PSG winger Angel Di Maria and hopes to reach the level of his role model someday. Kuruniyan, who has played for India at the U-18 and U-19 levels, is the youngest squad member of Indian Super League side FC Pune City.

The boy who came through the Vision India football programme in Malappuram had landed in Pune two years ago to join the academy of former I-League club Pune FC. Earlier this year he was adopted into the FC Pune City academy.

Villareal CF’s president Fernando Roig was quoted by the FC Pune City website: “We are more than happy to absorb Ashique Kuruniyan because we saw a spark in him. Our coaches will work on him and we will aim to realise his true potential.”