Mohun Bagan: Hugo Boumous Not Registered For ISL; Joni Kauko Replaces French Midfielder

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Mohun Bagan have severed ties with their star French midfielder Hugo Boumous, who is not registered for the ongoing ISL 2023-24 by the defending champions. The club has included their new signing Joni Kauko instead.

Hugo Boumous also took to his official Facebook page to confirm that he has left Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the middle of the season. An official confirmation by the club is awaited.

"Will force myself to say the word goodbye, but my heart will never mean it," Hugo Boumous wrote on his Facebook page.

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder last featured for MBSG in the Super Cup, where they made a group-stage exit to arch-rivals East Bengal. Mohun Bagan have undergone radical changes for the second half of the ISL 2023-24 after their title defense campaign was hit hard before the winter break in December.

This included parting ways with ISL- and Durand Cup-winning coach Juan Ferrando while Antonio Habas was appointed as the interim manager till the end of the ongoing ISL 2024. Assistant coach Clifford Miranda was asked to take charge of the team during the Super Cup in Bhubaneswar, where Hugo Boumous failed to impress with his performance.

His no-show in the tournament, which ended with a Kolkata Derby loss, was the last nail in the coffin as the signing of Kauko, who returned for the second spell at Mohun Bagan. The other five Mohun Bagan's registered foreigners for the second half of the ISL 2023-24 are Jason Cummings, Armando Sadiku, Dimitri Petratos Hector Yuste, Brendan Hamill.

The departure of Hugo Boumous ends a bright association between the two entities as since joining the Kolkata Giants in 2021, the French footballer became fan favourite due to his trickery, play-making abilities and performances in big matches, including memorable wins in Kolkata Derby. He won two trophies (ISL and Durand Cup) during the period.

Mohun Bagan will host Hyderabad FC later in the evening (February 10) at the Yuba Bharati Kriranga, popularly known as Salt Lake Stadium.