TNN
NEW DELHI, July 24
The Delhi Dynamos pulled up a surprise when they announced Roberto Carlos as their marquee player-cum-manager earlier this month. However, the fans should not expect the Brazilian World-Cup winner to play a full season of the Indian Super League (ISL).
By signing Carlos for over half a million dollars (Rs 3.5 crore approx), the Dynamos have saved the expenditure of bringing another hand to manage the team. This move has ensured they have enough money left for other international signings. Each club gets Rs 15.5 crore to sign international players. The franchise has also bought more time for other international signings by already announcing their marquee player.
TOI has learnt from reliable sources that former France and Chelsea left-winger Florent Malouda will most likely be joining the club. Malouda, aged 35, could very well be the 'unofficial' marquee player of the team. The French World Cup finalist in 2006 played his last game for Ligue 1 club Metz in May 2015.
If everything goes according to plan, then Malouda will be the fourth foreign player to join the Delhi Dynamos.
The franchise has retained midfielders Hans Mulder and Gustavo dos Santos from last season and is on the look out for more international players. ISL's jam-packed schedule, where over 50 matches will be played in a span of 70 days, won't make things easy for Carlos. While three clubs are yet to announce their marquee players, it could very well be that Carlos, at 42 will be one of the oldest - if not the oldest - players to play in the second edition of the league. The Brazilian left-back last played football for Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala back in 2012. Coming out of retirement after a span of three years, there would be an obvious question mark to his form and fitness. There are chances that the fans might see Carlos play for just 15-20 minutes and for his trademark free-kicks.
While the 'Bullet Man' insists he is fit and raring to go, the dual responsibility of marquee player-cum-manager might see him spend more time off the field than on it. His role will be similar to Marco Materazzi, who played as a player-cum-manager for Chennaiyin FC last year.
Carlos will also be central to Dynamos' marketing and promotional activities. With an average attendance of over 15,000, Delhi had the second lowest attendance figures in the inaugural edition of the ISL. TOI has learnt that Dynamos are looking forward to make use of Carlos' brand value to improve their ticket and jersey sales.
