Josue Currais Prieto: Meet Kerala Blasters' FC Barcelona connect

Josue has played for the youth sides of FC Barcelona and Espanyol

A host of national and international stars will be absent for the Kerala blasters when they take on an upbeat North East United team in Kochi today. The list includes marquee player Carlos Marchena, who is out for an indefinite period due to a back injury. But in his absence, a young Spanish midfielder named Josue Currais Prieto can be the biggest surprise in today’s game.

Playmaker by trade, Josue was signed by the Kerala team management this year. India is the 22-year-old Spaniard’s latest destination in his football journey, after emerging through FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia football academy and making pit stops at Finland, Italy and Poland.

He has been very impressive in pre- season for the Kerala side. Along with fellow Blasters playmaker Sanchez Watt, they showcased a cohesive partnership, during their practice games and will be hoping to continue in similar vein, when they take on NorthEast United FC.

Although he is more comfortable playing as an attacking midfielder, he can also play wide on left and can even fill in as a left back if required. He said, “A lot of people told me about ISL. I spoke to players from Atletico de Kolkata and they convinced me about the popularity of the league.”

Prieto, known simply as Josu, wants to try out his luck with the top European clubs soon. ISL can be an ideal stage for him, if he can prove himself in Indian conditions.He has talked to players, who played in India last year like Arnal Llibert of Atletico de Kolkata and Blasters’ Victor Herrero Forcada, before arriving in Kerala.

Meanwhile with rain splaying a hide and seek game, the football crazy fans in Kerala are in a desperate mood to witness the opening match of the home team Kerala Blasters.The team had their entire pre-season build-up in their home state and had been well-versed to the moods of the weather there. The home ground is an advantage to them against the visitors.

Kerala head coach Peter Taylor was very confident that the team will not be banking on one or two players, but would be a well-trained and coordinated squad.

To add to the woes of the visitors North East United FC, they will be also missing their marque captain Simao for this match. The team has been built around the charismatic midfielder and it would be really difficult to fill up his void for coach Cesar Farias.