ISL: Nobrega keen to seize his chance

Spaniard slowly adjusting to BFC ways

When Bengaluru FC announced the signing of Braulio Nóbrega, the news was met with a few raised eyebrows.

On the face of it, it looked like head coach Albert Roca was adding more firepower to the attack with a player who had a proven track record in the lower leagues of Spanish football. But those who knew of Nóbrega developed certain reservations about the selection.

The 32-year-old was convicted of sexual assault in October 2011  but escaped a jail term after he agreed to pay 11,400 euros as compensation to the victim. It's an episode that Nóbrega doesn't like to reminded about.

"I understood what you are saying but I don't want to talk about that," came a quick response in Spanish, which was later translated to English by his team-mate and friend Juan Goanzale, the Bengaluru centre-back.

Keep this episode out and Nóbrega is a delightful person to meet with. He professes his love for Atletico Madrid, enjoys talking about the Real-Atletico rivalry, takes a dig at their wealthy city rivals in every possible way and even thinks Atletico's move to the Wanda Metropolitano 'is all business and nothing else'. "I am sad that (Vicente) Calderón is finished," he says.

"It's here (taps his heart). Wanda (Metropolitano) is all business for Atletico. Calderón is a historic stadium. Wanda is beautiful, but you can't bring the history to the new stadium. It's not the same."

The Spaniard, however, isn't bothered by it much. He is focused on his job here. "I am very happy with what I have seen so far," he says describing his time here. "We have top quality players in Sunil (Chhetri), Udanta (Singh) and Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu). I think we can challenge for a top-four place in the league with this side."

Moreover, with his wife and daughter joining him here, things have been easy in this new city for the Spaniard. "I am happy to be here. I am happy with the city. My family is here too, so that's a good thing. After training, going home and being with your family is a good thing."

For a player who spent his initial years at Atletico playing alongside Diego Simeone, Diego Forlan, Sergio Agüero and Fernando Torres, before moving to other La Liga clubs like Getafe and Real Zaragoza, it's a bit of a surprise that he chose to travel to an unknown territory in India. But Nóbrega thinks otherwise. "The (Indian) Super League is three years old and you see a lot of players coming from Spain and playing here," he says.

"So it's not that we don't know about India at all. Yes, many of us haven't watched the games before, but we have read about it and guys who have played in India speak about it. I think it's a good opportunity for us."

But with his fellow new recruit Miku going all guns blazing so far in the season, the ever-smiling Spaniard will have to up his game if he has to enjoy his time in Bengaluru's blue.