Hero Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Mumbai City FC captain Mourtada Fall will leave the club after his contract runs out on May 31, the side announced his departure through their social media handles on Monday.

The Senegalese centre-back’s journey with the Islanders comes to an end after three incredible years.

Mourtada Fall moved up the west coast when he joined Mumbai City FC in October 2020 from FC Goa and instantly went on to become an indomitable figure in the Islanders’ defence. Known for his aerial prowess at both ends of the pitch, Fall found the back of the net four times in his debut season with the Club, including a towering header in a 2-0 win over ATK Mohun Bagan which handed the Islanders their maiden Hero ISL League Winners’ Shield in the 2020-21 season. He went on to score in the semifinals against the Gaurs and then played a crucial role as the Islanders won the Hero ISL Trophy and completed the ‘double’.

A true leader in every sense of the word, Fall was named Club captain the season after by his teammates. The 35-year-old continued to make his mark both on and off the pitch as he led Mumbai City FC onto the biggest footballing stage in Asia – the 2022 AFC Champions League. Across the six games the Islanders’ played in the tournament, Fall shone through with exemplary defensive performances as Mumbai City went on to finish second in their Group B.

Renewed with the continental success and an extension on his original two-year contract, Fall skippered the Islanders once again in 2022-23 as the Club went on to create Indian football history. After finishing runners up at the 2022 Durand Cup, Mumbai City went on a staggering 18-match unbeaten run in the league. Having had to celebrate it in 2021 in empty stadiums, Fall lifted Mumbai City FC’s second League Winners’ Shield in three seasons – this time in front of the Islanders’ fans at a packed Mumbai Football Arena on an unforgettable evening.

Fall made 68 appearances for the Islanders across three seasons, scoring 8 times and providing 3 assists as he leaves Mumbai City FC a Club icon.

Bruno Ramires and Roy Krishna bid adieu to Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru FC have parted ways with midfielder Bruno Ramires and forward Roy Krishna, the club announced the departure through their social media handles on Sunday.

Bruno joined the club ahead of the Hero ISL 2021-22 season from Portuguese side Belenenses. A crucial cog under then head coach Marco Pezzaiuoli, the Brazilian started all 20 games in his debut season, making 104 tackles, 39 interceptions, 35 clearances, and 33 blocks besides providing a solitary assist.

In the subsequent Hero ISL 2022-23 campaign, Bruno had limited gametime, clocking just 1215 minutes across 16 games. However, his gamestyle was not limited to the midfield as head coach Simon Grayson used his versatility in the backline.

With constant injury niggles at the back, Grayson turned Bruno into a stopgap defender and given his repertoire, the 29-year-old did not disappoint, forming a vital partnership with Sandesh Jhingan. He started as a centre-back in the last six games of Bengaluru FC in the Hero ISL season including the final.

Across his 16 games in the Hero ISL 2022-23 season, the defender made 41 tackles, 34 clearances, 25 blocks, and 25 interceptions. While his versatility may be missed across different positions on the field, the Brazilian will be known for his stature, as a strong all-round player ready to march on the orders of the head coach.

Alternatively, Roy Krishna joined the Blues from Kolkata-based side ATK Mohun Bagan ahead of the Hero ISL 2022-23 season. The league’s fourth all-time top scorer with 41 goals in 81 games, Krishna’s move was touted as one of the biggest moves prior to the start of the 2022-23 Hero ISL campaign.

Despite being one of the most prolific strikers to have graced the league, the Fijian wasn’t able to stamp his authority with the new club, contributing to just three goals in the first ten games. While Grayson was finding feet with respect to tactics, gameplay, the Blues collectively weren’t able to perform to the best of their abilities, going through one of their worst-ever run of performances in the season.

However, the marksman came clutch and kicked into gear in the latter stages of the season which saw the Blues go on a stellar 10-game winning run where Krishna formed a lethal partnership with Sivasakthi Narayanan. The duo along with midfield maestro Javi Hernandez were at the forefront of goals that saw the side reach the Hero ISL final after three seasons.

All in all, Krishna’s calibre proved to be of massive help for the Blues who reached the finals in all three domestic competitions this season – Durand Cup, Hero ISL, Hero Super Cup – having netted at least a goal in each of the three competitions. A double-digit haul (11 goal contributions) in his fourth consecutive season in the Hero ISL shows his consistency, with the player having gained a reputation for tearing apart several teams in the league.

Krishna and Bruno are the latest to join the ranks of Udanta Singh, Prabir Das, Pablo Perez, Alan Costa among others in the list of players who have made a move away from Bengaluru FC.

Related tags:

Bengaluru FCMumbai City FC Roy KrishnaMourtada Fall