WebDesk
Kiyan Nassiri’s re-signing by Mohun Bagan Super Giant has stirred discussions. While the return of the young forward brings back memories of his hat-trick against East Bengal, his comeback also marks a strategic decision taken by the club management amid growing financial and tactical considerations.
According to internal assessments, Nassiri’s arrival is not merely a sentimental move, but part of a broader plan that also involves the departure of winger Ashique Kuruniyan. Sources indicate that the club was facing constraints due to the Indian Super League salary cap, and releasing Kuruniyan — who reportedly commanded a significantly higher wage than Nassiri — was a financially calculated move.
“Ashique’s salary was far higher compared to Kiyan’s. When you assess Ashique’s return on investment over the last two years — considering his frequent injuries and limited game time — the management had to re-evaluate his impact,” said a club insider.
In the last two seasons, Kuruniyan struggled with fitness issues, missing multiple games. The coaching staff and officials raised serious concerns over his overall contribution to the team, both in terms of performance and value for money.
The return of Nassiri, along with the emergence of promising youngster Salahudheen Adnan, has helped the club address its previous lack of depth on the wings. “The return of Nassiri is a strategic move to plug that gap without overshooting the salary cap,” the source added.
Moreover, the decision to part ways with Kuruniyan has allowed the club to reallocate funds to support other critical signings. With defenders Mehtab Singh and Abhishek Singh being key targets, the club needed room within the ISL-mandated salary budget to accommodate their contracts.
Had the club continued with Kuruniyan, it would not have been financially viable to bring in both Mehtab and Abhishek. The management chose to utilise the freed-up resources from Kuruniyan’s exit to strengthen other key areas of the squad.
Follow Revsportz for latest sports news