ISL 2017/18: Juanan Gonzalez extends contract with Bengaluru FC till 2020 season
What's the story?
Bengaluru FC, currently on a high having qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing Indian Super League, will have a lot more to celebrate with defensive lynchpin Juanan Gonzalez signing a new contract that will keep him associated with the club till the end of the 2020 season.
The extension of his contract makes him only the second Bengaluru FC player to extend their contract following defender Rahul Bheke's three-year extension.
In case you didn't know
The Spanish defender, who represented Real Madrid 'B' in his youth years and also plied his trade for Fortuna Dusseldorf, had joined Bengaluru FC on a one year deal ahead of the 2016 season of the Indian Super League.
After a short stint with the Rayo OKC club as part of the North American Soccer League, Juanan penned a deal with Bengaluru FC and has represented the Blues for two seasons with stunning success.
The heart of the matter
The centre-back, who has formed a fantastic coalition with English defender John Johnson, was visibly thrilled at the extension of his contract with the high-profile club and was quoted saying in a press release, "I am very happy to extend my stay at a club that is special for me. I have enjoyed two very good years at Bengaluru FC and there is a lot of ambition on this team which is why I didn’t hesitate to sign a new contract the moment the opportunity came."
Juanan also emphasized on the club's current run of form by saying, "We are in the semifinal of the ISL and are targeting success at the AFC Cup where we have come close on two occasions. Also, the fans and this city has been so welcoming and it’s made the decision to stay very simple for me and family,” attributing the club's success to majorly influencing his decision.
What's next?
Juanan's presence in the BFC defence will be a major boost for the Bengaluru franchise with the knockouts set to play host to some riveting clashes.
Author's take
Going by the current form of Bengaluru FC, Juanan's experience could come in very handy which would only aid BFC's path to clinch potentially its first ever ISL title in the debut season.