Mumbai: Robert Pires says it was his ‘second daddy’ Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who convinced him to come out of retirement and play in Indian Super League (ISL).

Pires, part of France’s World Cup winning team, will turn out for FC Goa as their marquee player. The celebrated mid-fielder said: “Wenger told me if you can play in India, you need to go. You love football and you have the passion…

“Wenger is like my second daddy. For me it was very positive to work with him in the six seasons, so when I explained this project in India he asked me not wait,” the 40-year-old Arsenal legend said.

“I retired three years ago, but I am still training with Arsenal because I have a good relation with the club and Wenger. So it’s been easy to come out of retirement. My passion is football and I can still play. I am looking forward to the league,” he said.

Brazilian legend Zico said the two-and-half month long league would help India improve in football. “Football has to go through a process so that it becomes successful here too. Since this League is going to attract a lot of players from Italy, Portugal, Spain and France, I think India has much to learn from all these top players,” Zico said. (PTI)