Kelechi Iheanacho |
Barcelona are believed to be keeping a firm eye on rising Manchester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.
According to reports, Barcelona, who
missed out on signing Iheanacho for nothing after he helped Nigeria
win the UAE 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, where he also won the
Golden Ball, have decided to renew their interest in the 20-year-old
following his performances for his Premier League club and the Super
Eagles.
The Spanish giants, who arguably boast
the best attackers in world football in Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez
and Neymar, believe playing with the superstars in the same team could
help Iheanacho fulfil his full potential.
According to sportinastorm.com on
Wednesday, Barcelona are encouraged to revive their interest in the
attacker because they believe he could be unhappy at being pushed
further down the pecking order at Etihad Stadium following the imminent
arrival of the talented Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras.
Sergio Aguero and Nolito are ahead of Iheanacho in the striking pecking
order.
Man City paid a fee of £27m for the
19-year-old Jesus, who has six caps for Brazil. The Rio 2016 Olympic
gold medallist will join the Citizens in January.
And manager Pep Guardiola warned that Iheanacho’s chances of first team football this season could be limited.
The Nigerian, who in August signed a
two-year contract extension – keeping him at the club until 2021, has
started just three Premier League games scoring three league goals
this season.
“Of course he (Iheanacho) deserves to
play, but there are many others who deserve to play too,” Manchester
Evening News quoted Guardiola as saying on Wednesday.'
“Our job is so uncomfortable for these kind of decisions.
“Normally when these guys don’t train
good, when they are not nice guys with their team-mates, it doesn’t
matter, but that is not the case with Kele.”
Guardiola added, “My advice is keep
going, keep fighting, sooner or later everything is coming back, and of
course he’s going to have his minutes. Until now he played good, but in
the big teams sometimes that happens.You can play just 11 players and
that’s all,”
Meanwhile, Belgian club Genk have
rejected Leicester City’s £16m bid for versatile Nigeria defender
Wilfred Ndidi, insisting on £20m, according to reports.
Leicester, who have been struggling in
the Premier League since N’Golo Kante moved to Chelsea during the
summer transfer window, view 19-year-old Ndidi as a capable replacement
for the Frenchman.
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