I-League: Lebanon international Munier Raychouni on trials with Salgaocar

Munier Raychouni

Lebanon international defender Munier Raychouni is currently on trials with Salgaocar, Sportskeeda can reveal.

Raychouni has been training with Salgaocar since the start of this week with a South Korean defender having also joined on trials on Thursday.

27-year-old Raychouni was born in Berlin but is of Lebanese origin. Early in his career he played in the lower divisions of German football before moving to the Lebanese Premier League in 2008. He has also had a spell in Singapore with Woodlands Wellington FC and last played for Royal Thai Navy FC in Thailand.

He has represented the Lebanon national football team twice at international level and also played in the 2013 AFC Cup for Lebanon’s Al Safa SC. Raychouni is highly versatile as he is capable of operating as a right back, right midfielder or defensive midfielder.

It remains to be seen whether Raychouni can impress Salgaocar head coach Derrick Pereira, who has so far signed only one foreigner in Ivorian midfielder Douhou Pierre.

Former EPL striker set to join

Salgaocar are close to signing former Scottish international striker Craig Beattie. The 30-year-old played in the English Premier League for West Bromwich Albion in 2008-09 and thus qualifies to be a marquee foreigner.

Beattie played for Scottish second tier outfit Dundee United last season and helped them gain promotion to the Scottish Premier League. He is currently in Goa but yet to train, with the club assessing his fitness.

So far Bengaluru FC (Joshua Walker), Mohun Bagan (Pierre Boya) and East Bengal (Leo Bertos) have signed marquee foreigners.