Iheanacho Leaves For Man City

Golden Eaglets forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, is set to join English
Premier League side, Manchester City. The player left having been
released on Monday from the Super Eagles camp in Abuja by
Stephen Keshi. Iheanacho was in camp for the Championship of
African Nations billed for South Africa in January.
A statement from the Eagles Media officer, Ben Alaiya, on Monday
confirmed Iheanacho’s departure for England. The PUNCH however
could not get a confirmation from City of any such move as at
Monday night.
The youngster was the Most Valuable Player at the recent FIFA
U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The competition was
won by Nigeria after defeating Mexico 3-0 in the final match.
Keshi was quoted by Alaiya as saying that he had to approve the
departure of the player after his father, James Iheanacho, personally
put a call to him on Monday afternoon requesting the release of his
son for the trip to England.
Keshi said, “Initially a young man came declaring that he was the
agent of Iheanacho, but I declined to deal with him until I hear from
the family because the boy is still a minor.
“It was soon after my rejection that I got a call from his father who
told me that they have got travelling visa to the United Kingdom
and that I should oblige him with his son’s release. I did and told
the young man to go and do the nation proud at whichever club he
finally chooses to settle down with.”
Keshi acknowledged that Iheanacho is a talented player but also
cautioned that the player should be handled gently and
professionally as he navigates his professional career. The player’s
transfer has been one of controversies since he made the headlines
at the FIFA competition. It started with several people stepping up
as agents for the player and then it was followed by different price
tags placed on him. The choice of European club to join soon
became a thorny issue between the player and his father such that
the player left home unceremoniously with the father allegedly
declaring him missing.
But apart from the Iheanacho move, the Eagles also trained on
Monday. The national team cancelled their second Monday training
session after it appeared that the close to three hours morning
training session may have taken its toll on the players.
“We have to be cautious not to push the players too hard so that
nobody will break down,” Keshi said.