UEFA Champions League semifinalists Club Atlético de Madrid have won the bid for the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise in Kolkata.

The Spanish league leader together with a consortium consisting of Indian cricket legend Sourav Ganguly, Harshavardhan Neotia (Ambuja Neotia Group), Sanjiv Goenka (RP – Sanjiv Goenka Group) and Utsav Parekh (SMIFS Capital Markets Ltd.) were able to claim one of the eight ISL franchises which were up for the bidding [+ read more].

The Kolkata franchise will be named Atlético de Madrid Kolkata and the team will wear the traditional colors of “Rojiblanco”. Atlético is hoping to launch a successful start to their global expansión plan and to enhance the level of football in India according to a statement on the club website.

“Through this franchise, the club will work to enhance the level of football in India, and help design a series of growth models relating to sports, commercial opportunities, marketing, and communication. Club Atlético de Madrid will utilize its athletic and management expertise in promoting sports and developing Atlético de Madrid Kolkata,” the club stated.

Atlético’s CEO Miguel Ángel Gil is looking forward to work in India and to make use of the expertise within his club. “I am very excited to have won the Kolkata Franchise? of the ISL and being the First International Team to be directly owning a Club in India we along with our Indian Partners and IMG-Reliance aim to revolutionise football in the country,” Miguel Ángel Gil told.