Gerard Zaragoza’s Bengaluru FC returned for pre-season training amid wild fanfare at the Bangalore Football Stadium, as the club began the build up to the 2024-25 campaign with an open training session, where as many as six new players were revealed to the supporters. The Blues, who ended their 2023-24 campaign on a dismal note, unable to make the playoffs of the Indian Super League, welcomed former players Rahul Bheke and Lalthuammawia Ralte to the fold along with former Punjab FC left-back Mohamed Salah. Bheke, who scored the Blues’ winning goal in the 2018-19 Indian Super League campaign, returns after a successful stint at Mumbai City FC where he won the ISL Shield in 2022-23 and the ISL Cup in 2023-24 as skipper.
“It was really great to be back in Bengaluru and to train in front of our supporters today. We want to give them back for all the love they’ve shown to us today and for their belief in us. I believe we have assembled a very good squad for this season and I’m really looking forward to all the challenges that lie in wait,” said Zaragoza, speaking during the interaction.
Also present at the event and unveiled to the fans was Spanish attacker Edgar Mendez. Mendez, who most recently turned out for Mexican LigaMX side Club Necaxa, is a product of the Real Madrid Juvenil side, and has made over 150 La Liga appearances across stints in Almeria, Granada and Alaves. Mendez also had a three-year stint with Cruz Azul in Mexico, where he won the Copa MX: Apertura.