No clarity on Sunil Chhetri's remuneration at Sporting Lisbon

The excitement on his face was palpable and there was a buzz in the air but the silence over his remuneration became a subject of speculation even before Sunil Chhetri could share the good news of him being signed by Sporting Lisbon with his India teammates.

People connected with, or, in the know of the deal here, refrained from disclosing anything about the contractual details, especially the signing fee.

"The focus is mainly Sunil at the moment and we are not going into the contractual details right now," said an official involved with deal.

"The details will be worked out very soon and you should get them in the next 24 hours," he added.

As the contract with Chhetri's previous club, Mohun Bagan, was not renewed this season, the question of transfer fee does not arise. Sources close to the development thought alike.

"But he will be getting something we are sure," a source said.

For a nation starved of football success at the big stage, an European heavyweight showing interest on Chhetri, even for their B team, is a welcome news.

Considering the 163rd-ranked India's standing in international football, AIFF president Praful Patel was not far from the truth when he termed the development a "beginning of a new era".

Chhetri himself, surely on a lighter note, stated thatmoney does not make much difference.

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