Kerala Blasters FC have signed 27-year-old Macedonian defender Vlatko Drobarov. He will replace Jairo Rodrigues, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the ISL season 2019-20 owing to an injury, reports the official site of the Hero Indian Super League.
Kerala Blasters hopes to strengthen its defence, which has suffered a setback as multiple players were sidelined because of injuries, with the addition of Drobarov. Rodrigues had suffered an injury during the Blasters' match against Odisha FC in Kochi. Sandesh Jhingan, Gianni Zuiverloon and Jairo Rodrigues too couldn't be of much help to the side owing to injuries. Mario Arques, who is a midfielder, too is suffering from an injury.
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Although there were reports that said Rodrigues would be back in action in a few weeks, the team confirmed that he would sit out for a longer period of time and that the club has been looking for a replacement.
Drobarov, who has played for the U-19 and U-21 Northern Macedonia national teams, made his debut for Macedonian side FK Skopje back in the 2010-11 season. The six-feet one-inch tall player, who was part of several clubs in his home country, is expected come as a much-needed shot in the arm for the Kerala side.
Drobarov, who made his first international debut in 2013 when he was roped in by Mexican side Murcielagos FC, could come in as a defensive midfielder as well as a centre-back. He was part of the Macedonian side Belasica before the Kerala club signed him.
