ATK Mohun Bagan announces the return of Sandesh Jhingan
Indian Super League title contenders ATK Mohun Bagan have announced the return of Indian international Sandesh Jhingan who has mutually parted ways with Croatian top-tier club Sibenik.
The 28-year old central defender signed with HNK Sibenik ahead of the 2021-22 season but a major calf injury and other minor injury issues marred Jhingan’s time in Europe.
One of the nation’s best defenders, Jhingan failed to make even a single appearance in the Croatian top-tier league due to lack of match fitness and eventually decided to terminate his contract and return to India in a bid to continue his professional football career.
The former Kerala Blasters defender was a pivotal part of the ATK Mohun Bagan squad in the 2020-21 ISL season as the Mariners missed out on winning the trophy by a whisker on the final day. Jhingan also ended as an ISL runner-up with the Blasters twice, back in 2014 and 2016 making the wait to get his hands on the trophy even longer.
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Ahead of the 2021-22 ISL season, the Mariners strengthened their squad massively by bringing in Hugo Boumous and Amrinder Singh from champions Mumbai City along with adding steel in midfield by bringing in Deepak Tangri and Joni Kauko. Young starlet Liston Colaco also joined ATK Mohun Bagan ahead of the season but Jhingan’s departure left a hole in the heart of the defense that cost Antonio Lopez Habas his job after a few matches in the ongoing ISL season.
With the addition of the Indian international in his squad, new head coach Juan Ferrando would be hoping to help the Mariners qualify for the AFC Champions League and lift the ISL trophy at the business end of the season as well.
Jhingan penned down an emotional letter to the fans and posted it on Twitter after his return to the homeland discussing his personal and professional struggles over the last few months.
“I am very happy to have rejoined AtkMohunBaganfc. They are like a family to me and have always supported me no matter what especially for the past few months when me and my family both struggled a lot because of my injury and off the field setbacks.”
“No matter how hard you work, no matter how big your plans are, you are never sure whether it will go your way or not but this shall never stop you from putting in the effort every day and to keep reaching out for your dreams. I am proud of myself and my family that we took that step. It takes a lot of courage and it’s always better to try instead of never giving it a shot.”
“I would also like to thank HNK Sibenik for giving me the opportunity and wish all my teammates the best for the rest of the season. Lastly, now I am back home and fully motivated to have a great season and bring joy to our loyal fans.”
Jhingan is an experienced campaigner and is already familiar with most of the players in the squad but he would not be available for ATK Mohun Bagan’s match against Odisha due to the mandatory quarantine period. Whenever Jhingan makes his second debut for the Mariners, he would have a singular aim of lifting the ISL trophy at the end of the ongoing ISL season.