18 year old Indian boy Ishan Pandita a Bengaluru's boy creates a history, became the first Indian to sign with a La Liga club.
Three years ago he took a one of the major decision about his life, he told his parents that he wanted to take a sabbatical from his studies and explore his dream of becoming a professional football player.
The move proposed many eyebrows, and many of them also laughs at him, but Ishan was ascertained, his diligence and passion finally paid off late on Monday evening when he signed a professional contract with Spanish La LIga club.
The 18 year old youngster penned a one year deal with the newly promoted side Club Deportivo Leganes. Who are sitting 11th in the La Liga table, the club's vice president owner Felipe Moreno handed him over the number 50 blue and white home kit at Estadio Municipal de Butarque stadium in Leganes.
Ishan will play his first game as a under 19 player before getting into the main crew, It's been a tough, hard three years here in Spain but at the end, it was all worth it," Ishan told TOI from Madrid. "It feels great to be the first Indian to go down this path. Right from the moment I decided to take a break from studies till now, I never gave up on my dream.":Ishan quoted.
Ishan had a brief season with UD Almeria for eight months, since he couldn't get a contract because then he still wasn't 18 by then.
"What impressed us most about Ishan were his physical attributes and ability to score goals," academy director Jorge Broto Benavente said. "It's too early to say when he will break into the main team – he is a young player, a rough diamond to be worked on."