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The 2017-18 season of Indian Super League is about to start soon, in mid-November to be precise. With two new teams added to the league, it is set to be more exciting this season. The league is longer and the marquee player rule has been taken off, which gives the teams freedom to sign the players to balance the squad for the longer league.
ATK will be hoping to retain their title while Kerala Blasters will want to win the silverware they missed twice. On the other hand, newcomers Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC will also want to mount a challenge for the league title.
Each team has been busy strengthening in the summer with some big-name foreign signings. Let's look at the five foreign signings this season who have been battle-hardened at the elite stage, that is, the five new ISL players who have played the most in Europe's top five leagues - Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
#5 Braulio Nóbrega - 64 La Liga appearances
The Spanish striker would bolster the newcomers Bengaluru FC's frontline this year. 31-year-old Nobrega is an Atletico Madrid Academy graduate and has got 11 senior appearances for the team to his name. In 2004, Nobrega started his career with Atletico Madrid B and played two seasons.
There, he made 17 senior appearances for Los Rojiblancos scoring three goals before having loan spells at Mallorca and Getafe in La Liga. He made a permanent move to Real Zaragoza in 2009 helping them with promotion in the first season. Scoring six goals in 58 games, he stayed at Zaragoza for three seasons before moving to second division side FC Cartagena.
Nobrega had played for several second division teams and Greece before moving to Bengaluru FC. With Sunil Chhetri alongside Braulio in the side, Alberto Roca will hope to bring best out the Spanish forward.
#4 Manuel Arana - 75 La Liga appearances
The 33-year-old Spanish winger will a good addition up front for Sergio Lobera's side. Arana started his career at Castellón B team in the 2005-06 season and was later promoted to the main team in 2007
In 2009, he joined the La Liga side Racing de Santander and played for them for three seasons in the top division scoring seven goals in 63 appearances. In 2012, he joined another La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano but failed to make an impact at Los Franjirrojos and moved to second division side Recreativo.
Arana has scored 40 goals in 256 matches in various leagues, and 2015 finalist FC Goa will have a good striking option in him.
#3 Ferran Corominas - 241 La Liga appearances
The 34-year-old Spanish striker started his career at La Liga side Espanyol after coming through Banyoles Academy. The front-man played seven seasons for the Periquitos making 165 appearances and scoring 14 goals before being loaned out to Osasuna. In 2012 he joined Elche and helped them to promotion into La Liga in his first season. Coro made 112 appearances for Los Ilicitanos scoring 17 goals
FC Goa head coach Sergio Lobera would like to use Coro's vast experience in La Liga this season has he plans to challenge for the title with the 2015 runners-up.
#2 Wes Brown - 308 Premier League appearances
The five-time Premier League winner and two-time Champions league winner was once an integral part in Alex Ferguson's back line at Manchester United. Playing more than 230 games in the red jersey of United, Brown was a reliable cog in the Red Devils' winning machine.
Brown has played under current Kerala Blasters head coach Rene Meulensteen before and will be expected to be a starter next season. With 308 appearances in the Premier League, Brown takes the second position in this list behind another Premier League legend.
#1 Robbie Keane - 349 Premier League appearances
With a vast experience from around the world, the 37-year-old Irishman will be key to ATK's hopes of retaining their title. The Dublin-born striker started his career at Wolverhampton Wanders in 1997 and became an integral part of the team. Keane has played extensively in the English top-flight and his record of 349 Premier League appearances is among the best ever for an Irishman.
Keane's reputation and pedigree mark him out as the big marquee signing of the 2017-18 ISL season. Whether he can carry his goalscoring exploits from the Premier League to the ISL remains to be seen though.
