Would like to stay with Chennaiyin, but club yet to contact me: Valskis
CHENNAI: Though Indian Super League (ISL) 201920 ‘Golden Boot’ winner Nerijus Valskis wants to stay with Chennaiyin FC, the centre-forward stressed the club hasn’t communicated with him over the last couple of months regarding a contract extension.
Valskis, owner of 15 goals and six assists during his debut spell in India, inked only a one-year deal with Chennaiyin in July 2019 and is a free agent right now. “I hope to come back and continue what I started. But, it is hard. It has been two months since I spoke to CFC. The management hasn’t been in touch since the final (against ATK on March 14),” said Valskis during an Instagram Live session on the Footiepedia page.
“I want to play for Chennaiyin (in ISL 2020-21), but what can I do if the club doesn’t speak to me? I have to move forward and see other offers I have received,” added journeyman Valskis, who has thus far turned out for clubs in homeland Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Romania, Poland, Thailand and Israel apart from India.
The 32-year-old has been the cynosure of all eyes during the summer transfer window, thanks to his highly productive ISL campaign. With teams going all out to obtain his signature, Valskis could be on the move once again, with Asia likely to be his destination.
“At present, I am talking to a club outside India. I have an offer from ISL outfit Hyderabad FC as well. With Kerala Blasters FC, it was just a rumour. That is what my representative told me. I think, I will stay in Asia, but I don’t know if it will be India or any other country. Right now, I can’t tell you where I will be (next season). Let us see what happens (in the coming months).”
Valskis was one of the leading lights of CFC during its ISL 6 resurgence under Scotsman Owen Coyle, who took charge of the club after six league fixtures. Following a string of victories, Chennaiyin, which hovered at the bottom of the table when Coyle was roped in, magically made its way to the play-offs. However, the club failed to go the distance, losing 1-3 to record holder ATK in the title decider at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa.
Looking back at the side’s phenomenal turnaround, Valskis recalled, “The change (at the top) came as a good shock for the team. Everyone (in the squad) tried to impress manager Coyle as they wanted to be a part of his plans. What we did was a miracle. We were under pressure after a bad start, but we believed we could be in the top-four. In the final, ATK was better than us.”