ISL Season 8: NorthEast United continue bringing reinforcements as they announced the signing of French defender Zakaria Diallo on Monday. It is understood that the centre back joins the Highlanders as a replacement of club captain Khassa Camara who has left the bubble to feature for Mauritania at the Africa Cup of Nations. Follow all the ISL 2021-22 LIVE Updates only on InsideSport.IN
The French defender of Senegalese descent started his career at French outfit AS Treauville-Deauville and gradually rose through the ranks. he then joined Le Havre’s reserve team in the lower divisions of France and gradually proved his mettle. He was at Le Havre for only six months before he decided to join AS Beauvais Oise on a free transfer in 2009.
Here to hold the shield 🛡️ strong 💪🏻
Welcome Zakaria Diallo!#StrongerAsOne #TogetherWeAreInfinite pic.twitter.com/X2Znlk3rgB
— NorthEast United FC (@NEUtdFC) January 24, 2022
In the next season, he made his first major move when he joined Belgian top tier outfit Sporting Charleroi. However, it has not a great experience for Diallo as he only recorded six appearances before returning to France. After returning to France he joined Dijon FC. He played a handful of matches at the French top tier.
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But was a more regular member of the team next season as they got relegated to the Ligue 2. He then featured for more French top tier clubs like AC Ajaccio and Stade Brest move moving to foreign lands. He was sensational for Brest and therefore Major League Soccer outfit Montreal Impact roped him in. Diallo featured 26 times for the Canadian outfit before again moving to France.
The 35-year-old played an instrumental role in guiding RC Lens back to the Ligue 1. But after a quiet season in the Ligue 1 with Lens, Diallo moved out to try a different challenge as he joined Al Shabab in Kuwait. But now he has put pen to paper for the Highlanders and will be looking to resurrect their current campaign in the Indian Super League.
Diallo is known for his no-nonsense attitude and his physicality makes him a mismatch against forwards. The 35-year-old has played football in France and knows what it takes to drop quality performances. His experience and game reading skills will surely help the Highlanders to gain some ground this season. NorthEast United have conceded the highest number of goals this season (27) from 13 games and head coach Khalid Jamil will hope that Diallo’s addition will help him gain some stability at the back for the Highlanders.
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