KBFC skipper Jessel joins Bengaluru FC while Shankar Shampingraj returns to ISL
Bengaluru FC made a surprising move by adding former Kerala Blasters FC skipper, Jessel Carneiro to their team on a two-year deal. The announcement was made on Tuesday, leaving fans puzzled yet excited.
Jessel Carneiro had been playing for Dempo Sports Club in the Goa Professional League until 2019 when he joined Kerala Blasters. Initially one-year deal, Carneiro’s standout left-back performances secured him a three-year extension in Indian Super League (ISL).
Interestingly, Carneiro’s three-year contract with Blasters is ending soon, and there were talks about extending it. However, despite Kerala’s interest in continuing their partnership with him, Carneiro decided to surprise everyone by accepting a two-year offer from Bengaluru FC.
According to a source closely monitoring the situation, Kerala expressed interest in extending Jessel Carneiro’s contract, but their offer was limited to just one year. However, Jessel Carneiro’s acceptance of the multi-year contract with potential extensions at Bengaluru FC aligns well with Simon Grayson’s liking for the player.
In his early years with Kerala Blasters, Carneiro was a regular starter and eventually became the team’s captain. Under his leadership, the team reached the ISL final in 2021-2022 but unfortunately lost to Hyderabad FC on penalties at Fatorda.
However, things took an unexpected turn, and Carneiro’s position in the team weakened as coach Ivan Vukomanovic placed more faith in other players. This led to his last game for Blasters being against none other than Bengaluru FC. The story takes a twist as Kerala Blasters protest, walking out when the referee allows a controversial goal, leaving Carneiro and teammates bewildered.
Carneiro’s Super Cup absence due to injury adds to the mystery, as he prepares to join Bengaluru FC, their biggest rivals. It’s hard to predict what impact his presence will have on the field against his former team.
Shankar Sampingiraj Homecoming
In another twist, Shankar who had a successful three-year stint with Bengaluru FC between 2013 and 2016, is making a comeback to the team. During his previous tenure, Shankar won a Federation Cup trophy and the I-League title, but now he will be donning the Bengaluru FC jersey once again, adding a burst of excitement to the mix.
Shankar excelled in ISL, playing for Kerala Blasters, ATK, FC Pune City, Hyderabad FC. He helped RoundGlass Punjab FC win I-League promotion.
The fans can’t wait to see how both Jessel Carneiro and Shankar will perform in their new roles, injecting a fresh burst of curiosity into the upcoming season.
