The 19-year-old will play for AD Alcorcon

Aryan Gupta is hoping to go one better than any of his predecessors in Spain. The youngsters would become the fourth Indian ever to sign up as an official Spanish League player later this month and dream of competing against the best.

Scouted by Second Division club AD Alcorcon last year and having spent time with them in practice games, the 19-year old would now be able to figure in official league games after signing a professional contract. Gupta’s previous outing in Europe was as part of the Glacier FC in the 2014 Gothia Cup, Sweden, a youth tournament for clubs and schools from across the world. He has also been part of the Apeejay School, Noida’s team in the CBS School Nationals in 2015 and the All India School Nationals in 2016.

“The game is very fast in Spain and practising with better players always helps you improve. The people here have been very helpful in making us understand the Spanish system of football and make us comfortable,” Gupta said.

Alcorcon’s International area manager Jose Antonio Gonzalez, meanwhile, insists the club was clear it wanted to make foreign youngsters better persons first before becoming good players. “What we really want to contribute to them is football knowledge and a comprehensive learning method. Players grow up much more and learn the European football concept and improve their skills training in Spain,” he said.

Earlier, Bangalore’s Ishan Pandita had signed up with La Liga club Leganes in 2016 followed by former India Under-17 captain Deependra Singh Negi, who joined 2nd division club Reus before the latter moved back to Kerala Blasters in the ISL. Recently, Luv Kapoor was reported to have been contracted by fourth division club Palamos CF.