ISL is perfect stage for Indian players to be noticed: Silvestre

Former Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre says the ISL is a "perfect stage" for Indian players to catch the attention of football world and bring about a positive change in the minds of their parents as far as making careers out of the sport was concerned.

The Frenchman, who had won the UEFA Champions League with United, played in the first edition of Indian Super League for Chennayin FC.

The 37-year-old, who also had stints at Arsenal and Inter Milan, was speaking on the sidelines of Delhi Dynamos FC's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Grassroots Day celebration here today.

"In the future you can expect players to perform well for three months and get a stint and sign a contract outside India. It will obviously benefit the players, but also the national team, and Indian football in general," Silvestre said.

He added that with the exposure and money that ISL brings, it may change the mentality of Indian "parents who are presently not too interested" in their kids trying to pursue football professionally.

ISL has already given a boost to FC Goa player Romeo Fernandes, who is on loan to Clube Atl?tico Paranaense in Brazil, and became the first Indian to play in the mecca of football.