Indian Super League outfit Odisha FC have been busy in the transfer window ever since they brought back head coach Josep Gombau in the mix. Therefore they have announced the signing of Spanish defensive midfielder Saul Crespo in a one year deal and can be a very vital addition to the team in the upcoming season as they look to improve their results.
Despite being only 25-year-old, Saul Crespo has tons of playing experience in Spanish football. He has featured in the La Liga 2, Segunda Division B and Copa del Rey over the course of his career in Spain.
A defensive midfielder by trait, Saul Crespo was born in Ponferrada and therefore he started his career at SD Ponferradina’s youth system back in 2010. It was from here that he understood that he could pursue football as a professional career going forward. In 2015 he was loaned out to Segunda Division B outfit Atletico Astorga FC.
The defensive midfielder made his senior team debut that season as he came on as a substitute in an away 1-1 draw against UD Logrones. He then went on to return to Ponferradina and signed his first professional contract there. He stayed there for three seasons and it was on September in 2016 he scored the first goal for the senior team of Ponferradina. The goal came against CD Guijuelo and it was a timely equalizer. Saul Crespo gradually became a phenomenon as he appeared in 25 matches and a very decent season. However he was loaned out to third division outfit Aradina FC where he spent a season and then returned to Ponferradina in 2017 and immediately registered himself in the first team as he was simply consistent with his performances and the coach could not keep him out of the starting eleven. That season he helped his team to get back to the Segunda Division after three long seasons.
Saul Crespo will add that stability in the middle something that the Kalinga Warriors have lacked in the last few seasons. So to bring that was a task something that Gombau always looks forward to as he tries to stabilize the midfield and help Odisha FC improve. They have made some decent signings in the summer window as they look to push for the playoffs in the upcoming season.
