Former Manchester United and French international striker Louis Saha has become the first big name signing of the new Indian Premier League style football tournament to be organized in India by IMG-Reliance next season.
Saha has won 20 caps for the French national team which he represented between 2004 and 2008 and also won two Premier League titles along with the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League with Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson and is being seen as the first marquee signing of the new professional football tournament to be organized in September next year.
According to a source from IMG-Reliance, Louis Saha had confirmed his availability for the tournament through his agent and seeing their opportunity, IMG-Reliance wasted no time in signing the player, who they hope, will turn out to be the first of many big name signings to play in the tournament.
The source also stated that negotiations are ongoing with other options of marquee player signings but as of now, they can only reveal the name of Saha. According to reports, however, the group has targeted the likes of Thierry Henry, David Beckham and several other big name players who have recently retired or are at the twilight of their careers for the league.
Louis Saha himself retired at the end of last season after failing to find a club and he will, no doubt, be a great addition to the player roster as his immense experience of playing in the Premier League will help the young players who will play alongside him and can also hope for some kind of mentorship from him over time.
Former Manchester United teammates Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand hold the player in very high regard and consider him to be one of the best strikers they have played with too.