Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters have announced the signing of midfielder Adrián Nicolás Luna Retamar ahead of the ISL 2021-22 season.
The Uruguay attacking midfielder joins the Kerala club from Melbourne City on a two-year deal.
*checks watch* It's officially Thursday. Drop it. 💥 #SwagathamLuna 🇺🇾#YennumYellow pic.twitter.com/jrYLoS98XQ
— K e r a l a B l a s t e r s F C (@KeralaBlasters) July 21, 2021
Luna, who made 24 appearances for Melbourne City in the A-league last season notching three goals and four assists, began his career as a footballer at the youth academies of Club Atletico Progreso, Montevideo Wanderers, and Defensor Sporting in Uruguay. Eventually, he was promoted to Defensor’s U-19 and the first team in 2010.
Loan stints at Spanish clubs Espanyol, Gimnastic, and CE Sabadell as a midfielder, who then returned to Defensor in 2013. After two more seasons at the Uruguayan club, he moved to Mexico where he represented Tiburones Rojos and Venados FC.
In July 2019, Luna signed for Australian outfit Melbourne City, making 51 appearances over two years for the Melbourne club.
A former Uruguay U-17 and U-20 international, the 29-year-old has made 19 appearances for his national team across both age groups. He played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009, and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2011, scoring a goal each in both tournaments. In a club career spanning over 11 years, the attacking midfielder has made 336 appearances for all clubs, scoring 47 times along with providing 46 assists.
Bringing some Latino spice back to our midfield 😍
— K e r a l a B l a s t e r s F C (@KeralaBlasters) July 22, 2021
Who's excited for 2️⃣ years of Adrián Luna? 🙌🏽#SwagathamLuna #YennumYellow pic.twitter.com/Pw9cA4VykT
Kerala Blasters FC’s Sporting Director, Karolis Skinkys said: “Adrián Luna is a player with great calibre, and I am sure that this will make our team stronger. Apart from being a good playmaker and smart operator in tight spaces, I liked that Adrian is a hardworking player who always cares about team performance. So, I would like to welcome Adrian to join the Kerala Blasters family.”
Adrián Luna stated: “Very happy to join Kerala Blasters, the great family with the best fans in the country without a doubt. I am looking forward to training and meeting my teammates and all the technical staff.”
Luna becomes Kerala Blasters’ first overseas signing this season and fifth overall after Sanjeev Stalin, Hormipam Ruivah, Vincy Barreto, and Harmanjot Khabra.
Featured photo: Kerala Blasters FC
