I

ndonesian under-21 soccer team striker Andik Vermansyah has been thrust into the limelight in several well-known Malaysian newspapers in line with him possibly playing in next Malaysian Super League season.

The soccer player, who has been nicknamed Indonesia’s Messi — in reference to Barcelona’s player Lionel Messi, will potentially play for the Negeri Sembilan soccer club, replacing Cameroon-born Jean Emmanuel Effa Owona, who will move to the Terengganu soccer club, local media reported on Saturday.

Both Metro and Berita Harian reported that the Negeri Sembilan soccer club’s new coach, Divaldo Elves, said he would bring in an agile Indonesian striker to strengthen the Negeri Sembilan squad. Andik’s name is indeed on the list of imported players who will potentially sign a contract with the club.

But, the final decision has yet to be reached between the club’s executives and their Indonesian counterparts. “I believe he is capable of helping realize the club’s target to be successful in the next season if Andik plays for Negeri Sembilan,” a source at the club said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Andik has been well known by Malaysian soccer fans since he performed in a friendly game between the Surabaya soccer club and the Negeri Sembilan soccer club in March.