IM Vijayan, the former Indian striker on Monday backed East Bengal striker Jobby Justin's decision to make a switch to Kolkata-based Indian Super League (ISL) team Athletico de Kolkata (ATK).
"At the outset, it was I who had asked Jobby to join East Bengal. I had told him then that if he played well in the I-League, there is a good chance he would get offers from ISL," goal.com quoted Vijayan as saying.
"Now he received offers from many ISL teams, not just ATK. The important thing for him was to move to a club which would give him first-team opportunities," he added.
Justin, the Kerela born forward, had a great season with East Bengal scoring nine times in the 17 matches, but he decided to sign a pre-contract with ATK in the month of March. He will start playing for the team from the 2019-20 season.
Vijayan also said that he advised Jobby to move out as East Bengal since there is no surety about their participation in the ISL.
"But we are still unclear as to whether East Bengal will be in the ISL next season. So I think he made the right decision to move to ATK. But he needs to work hard for him to reap the benefits of that decision," Vijayan said.
This decision by Justin received severe criticism from the East Bengal fans, but the former Indian player Vijayan remains to be in his support.
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