FIFA U17 World Cup: 4 potential options for India U17s' Dheeraj Singh after his World Cup heroics
India bowed out of the FIFA U17 World Cup in the group stage as they suffered defeats in all three matches. However, one of the brightest sparks in the Indian scheme of things was goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. The 17-year-old from Manipur played every minute of India's maiden World Cup campaign, pulling off save after brilliant save to deny the Colts' more accomplished opponents.
However, Dheeraj couldn't stop India from shipping nine goals at the U17 World Cup despite making the third highest number of saves in the group stage. The AIFF Academy product made 16 saves during his three appearances, lesser than only Costa Rica's Ricardo Montenegro and Korea DPR's Tae Song Sin, thereby attracting the attention of a few watching scouts.
Having interested clubs from India as well as abroad, let us take stock of things and list out all possible options for the player who has become the real star of Indian football over the past fortnight.
#4 Borussia Monchengladbach
The German club are famous for grooming and developing players of world-class standard and were keen watchers of the India U17s shot-stopper at the FIFA U17 World Cup. Impressed by his brave display on the face of onslaughts from opposition attackers, Gladbach could still come back with an offer for Dheeraj but the possibility of that happening is reducing by the day as Indian clubs have now registered an interest in the 'keeper. However, FIFA rules on transfer of minors should still pose a problem.