Robert Lalthlamuana, Malengnamba Meitei and Sushil Meitei were the other North-Eastern players, the latter two arriving from 2nd Division I-League champions NEROCA FC, with whom NorthEast United formed a 5-year strategic alliance earlier this week. Ravi Kumar and Gurpreet Singh were chosen as back-ups to numero uno Rehenesh TP. However, the Whites from Guwahati will have to part ways with a sum of ₹15 Lakhs as transfer fees towards Minerva Punjab FC for Ravi Kumar.JOAO DE DEUS APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF NEUFC Bengaluru FC’s Gursimrat Singh Gill and Kerala-born Abdul Hakku were also fancied by the Highlanders. Spending the least amount of money in Sunday’s draft, NorthEast United total salary expenses do not exceed ₹3 Crores (excluding transfer fees and retained players’ salaries). Along with FC Pune City, NorthEast United remain the only two clubs never to have reached the play-offs of the ISL in its three seasons of existence. With new head coach Joao De Deus on board, the club aims to emulate great success with the already-acquired bunch of domestic players with the help of strong foreign acquisitions.
