Michael Chopra not to play for India, says agent

London, July 18 (UNI) AIFF's ambitious plan to revive football's fortune in India with expatriate players received an early jolt with Michael Chopra's agent rejecting any such possibility for the Cardiff City striker.

India's new soccer coach Bob Houghton, with the backing of the All India Football Federation, wanted to explore the possibility of persuading players of Indian origin to play for India and he cited Chopra as his prime 'target'.

Chopra's agent Simon Bayliss, however, shot down such idea and made it clear that the 22-year-old is all set to pursue his career in England.

''I've heard about this and there's nothing in it. Michael's played at every level for England and his intention is to continue with that,'' Bayliss was quoted as saying by the Wales media.

Incidentally, Houghton will run into Chopra in Vancouver where the Indian team would be playing in a four-team tourney, also involving Cardiff City.

Chopra spent over four years in and around the Newcastle first-team squad before making a 500,000 pound summer move to Cardiff. He represented England at every age group from Under-15 to Under-21 and he would like to play for the national side at some point of time, Bayliss added.

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