Defender Anto bags highest price tag from ISL Pool B auction

Mumbai: Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) sprang a big surprise in the Indian Super League (ISL) auction, picking up defender Rino Anto for Rs.90 lakh from Pool B here on Friday.

Anto plies his trade with I-League club Bengaluru FC as a right-back and had a base price of a Rs.17.5 lakh. ATK bought him for Rs.90 lakh after withstanding some hostile bidding from Mumbai City FC.

Anto thanked the franchise for buying him. ISL starts on October 3.

Japanese born Indian midfielder Arata Izumi was also lapped up by Atletico in the auction at a price of Rs.68 lakh. His base price was Rs.40 lakh.

Bengaluru FC forward Robin Singh was bagged by Delhi Dynamos FC for Rs.51 lakh, 11 lakh more than his base price.

The forward was silent for most parts of last I-League season but hoped to take the ISL by storm.

"I will give my best and play with all my heart," Robin said in a video message on Friday as he wasnot present at the auction.

The auction of 10 footballers was divided into two phases, Pool A and Pool B, with five players in each group. Chhetri was the star action of Pool A of the auction, while Rino grabbed attention in the second Pool.

Goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, commanding a base price of Rs.60 lakh, was sold at his base price, picked up by Chennaiyin FC.

Seityasen Singh who plays for Royal Wahingdoh in the I-League was roped in by North East United FC, owned by bollywood star John Abraham, at a price of Rs.56 lakh. His starting price was Rs.23 lakh.

No player went unsold at the auctions.