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Kolkata giants East Bengal are in advanced talks with New Zealand World Cupper Leo Bertos, Sportskeeda can reveal.
The red-and-gold brigade have zeroed in on Bertos for their marquee foreigner slot and have made an offer to the 32-year-old, who is currently a free agent.
Bertos, who can operate as an attacking midfielder, right winger or right wingback, played every minute of New Zealand’s 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign where the Kiwis were eliminated from the group stage despite being unbeaten.
After starting his career at New Zealand’s Wellington Olympic, Bertos had spells in the lower divisions of England before joining Australia’s A-League outfit Perth Glory in 2006. He spent two seasons there before moving to Wellington Phoenix in 2008.
Bertos won the Wellington Phoenix player of the year award in his first season and went on to spend six years there. He has represented New Zealand 56 times at senior international level and last featured for them in the inter-continental World Cup qualifying playoff against Mexico in November 2013. Bertos has also played for New Zealand’s futsal team.
Iran’s Majid Bishkar, Nigeria’s Emeka Ezeugo and South African Macdonald Mukansi are the other World Cuppers who have played for East Bengal in the past.
