CHENNAI: In most countries, they just have a ‘club vs country’ debate. Here though, there is now a ‘country vs I-League club vs ISL club debate’ as the unsavoury Robin Singh saga testifies.
Like most players that Bengaluru FC released, it was always thought that Robin would return to the Blues when his business with Delhi Dynamos was done. Sunil Chhetri did that, as did Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Rino Anto. So why expect anything else with Robin?
But the international striker’s case has taken a curious turn with Delhi Dynamos issuing a statement on Wednesday saying he now had no links with Bengaluru FC and that there was never any understanding that he would return to the I-League runners-up.
“Bengaluru FC wrongfully contacted our player without any written agreement for Robin Singh to join the pre-season camp, right after Delhi Dynamos’ semifinal’s second leg match against FC Goa in Goa on December 16. The same was done without any prior notice or any intimation to our club Delhi Dynamos,”said a statement from the ISL semifinalists.
The Dynamos also claimed that Australian and Scandinavian clubs were showing interest in the striker. “Robin was and is more interested in joining an international club, so we had to wait to explore the best possibility for him, as a player can be loaned only once in a single FIFA transfer window. Robin has shown interest to be transferred to an international club, for which the club has contacted clubs in Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia. A positive and interested response has been received from the clubs in Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavian clubs,” the statement continued.
Bengaluru FC officials were unwilling to comment on the Dynamos’ statement. “We have a replacement for every position, as was our target in the third year. Even without him we have a squad capable of winning the title,” they said. Since an injured Robin is expected to be out for most of the season anyway, the club will not be sweating too much over the issue.