I didn’t want to join Man City – Iheanacho

By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 14, 2022

Leicester City forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, says he never believed he would play for a big club like Manchester City, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Iheanacho’s impressive performance as Nigeria won a fourth title at the 2013 U-17 World Cup in UAE, where he won the Golden Ball after seven assists and six goals – including four strikes in a group stage victory over Mexico – was a catalyst for his move to the Etihad in 2014.

Within a year of signing for the Cityzens, Iheanacho was promoted to the first team and in his debut season at the Etihad he won the League Cup.

“I didn’t believe that it was going to happen,” Iheanacho told LCFC.

“After the U-17 World Cup, I was looking at going to other teams in Europe.

“But when they said I was going to Manchester City, I was surprised and saying, ‘How can I go there to that massive team? Am I going to play?’ I said that I wouldn’t go and that they should take me to a smaller team.

“However, my father said to me that it doesn’t matter where I go, I know how to play football and that I will get through there. So, I believed in him, he blessed me and I went to Man City.”

Iheanacho added that French defender Gael Clichy toughened him up at City.

“Gael Clichy, I called him my teacher,” Iheanacho stated.

“He’s the one who taught me how to go and get what you want and how to be tough and fight on the pitch, because he is a fighter. He never gets tired.

“He was always with me and pushing me. If he was against me (in training), he was going to kick me and say that I have to stand and fight back. I will never forget his kind words and teaching. He was my closest friend.

“Obviously, I didn’t get to play much but I was part of a big squad with brilliant players to win that. It was exciting. There were a lot of them (quality players). Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas, David Silva and Vincent Kompany, who always talked to me and gave me advice.”

The 26-year-old scored 21 goals in 64 games for Man City before joining Leicester City in 2017.

Source Punch Ng

Posted December 14, 2022


 

You may also like...
Nwosu Cautions Super Eagles Technical Crew, Players Against...

Victor Moses Shines As Fenerbahce Go Fourth In...

Impressive Iwobi inspires Arsenal to victory over Watford...

Nigeria Renews Gernot Rohr Contract As Super Eagles...

Arsenal signs three Nigerian midfielders

Djokovic opens up on one of his biggest...

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,140 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,267 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,349 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,989 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,930 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,877 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,717 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,287 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,331 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,034 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,487 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,915 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media