Uruguayan midfielder Federico Gallego will be staying on with NorthEast United FC for Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2019-20, the club has announced. Gallego was one of the standout stars for the Highlanders last term and was instrumental to their run till the semi-finals.

Gallego joined NorthEast ahead of the 2018-19 campaign and instantly showcased his class, taking the league by storm. The 29-year-old struck up a brilliant partnership with Bartholomew Ogbeche and propelled the team to their best-ever finish in the Hero ISL since their inception. The Montevideo-born player was one of the most creative individuals from last season and accounted for four goals and five assists in 20 appearances.

He's not going anywhere! The King in the Northeast 😍#FedeReturns pic.twitter.com/fa49v6fIhc

— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) August 9, 2019

The Uruguayan, however, had a tragic ending to the campaign, sustaining a horrific injury in the second leg of the semi-final against eventual champions Bengaluru FC. In fact, it was Gallego's exit from the pitch on an ambulance which changed the tide of the match in the Blues' favour. Now fit and raring to get onto the field, Gallego will look to inspire the team to do even better in the upcoming campaign.

Gallego's ability to orchestrate matches in the final third and his unrelenting tenacity to win back the ball in the defensive half makes him a complete midfielder and keeping hold of him represents a big step for NorthEast, who will be undergoing a massive rebuild this season with former head coach Eelco Schattorie and key players like Ogbeche and Rowllin Borges having departed.

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