'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Portuguese Primeira Liga side Vitória de Guimarães has signed Indian midfield duo Manish Maithani and Israil Gurung from Indian Super League side FC Pune City for the remainder of the 2014/15 season.
Manish and Israil will initially be attached to the Guimarães B team which plays in the Portuguese Segunda Liga, the second tier of Portuguese football, with an aim to improve their game. At Guimarães the first and second team train under a common platform and if they can impress, then Manish and Israil could also be training with the first team.
The chance for the two Indian footballers to join Guimarães was made possible through an informal partnership deal between Vitória de Guimarães and FC Pune City to develop the ISL club's football.
25 year old Israil Gurung made the start to his professional career with Hindustan FC before moving to Goa to the Sesa Football Academy. Thereafter he had his most successful stint with Churchill Brothers SC where he won the I-League before playing last season for Mohammedan Sporting. In the ISL he was an integral part of the FC Pune City squad.
27 year old Manish Maithani, born in Dehradun, made his professional debut for Amity United FC and Hindustan FC in New Delhi before shifting to Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan AC and Mohammedan Sporting Club. In the ISL, like Israil he was part of the FC Pune City squad.
