When Leeds United showed interest in bringing Kelechi Nwakali to Elland Road ahead of the coming season, he felt his dream of playing in the Premier League had come to fruition at last after his move to Arsenal did not bring about the desired result. However, Sociedad Deportiva Huesca has declared that the Nigerian youngster is not for sale and told him to return to the club for pre-season camping
Kelechi Nwakali’s dream of playing in the Premier League will have to cool off this summer as Spanish side, Sociedad Deportiva Huesca decides to hold on to their rough diamond for a while longer.
The Spanish side have decided that the young Nigerian youngster is not for sale and are looking to make the Nigerian midfielder a core part of their first-team squad this season.
Nwakali has not had the best of times since leaving Arsenal. He did not play a single match for the first team for Huesca in 2019.
The former Golden Eaglets hero only featured sparingly for the Oscenses in the first half of last season as the side struggled for survival in the Spanish La Liga.
But a switch to lower league side Alcorcon changed the fortunes for the dynamic midfielder as he showed glimpses of the quality that made Arsenal sign him straight after the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Nwakali’s excellent performances indeed attracted Premier League side, Leeds United and Championship club Bournemouth with the two teams keen on adding the Nigerian youth international to their squad.
But Huesca, with a desire to return to La Liga straight after suffering relegation last term, have no intention of allowing Nwakali to depart anytime soon.
The Aragon-based side indeed insists that they have not received any formal bid for the 23-year-old and are reportedly not willing to negotiate even if any club is ready to pay the player’s €15 million release clause.
Nwakali returned to Huesca’s preseason camp on Monday and he is expected to join team training should his Coronavirus tests come out negative.
He could become a pivotal part of Ignacio Ambríz’s first-team squad this season as they seek a return to La Liga.
The midfielder burst into the limelight in the 2015 U-17 World Cup where helped Nigeria win the title, scooping the Golden Ball Award of the tournament in the process.
Besides representing Nigeria at the U-17 level, he has also played for the U-20 side and currently has one cap for the Super Eagles.
The one-capped Nigerian international never played a senior game for the Gunners, but had some first-team action during loan spells away from the club.
In his short career, Nwakali spent time with MVV Maastricht (twice), VVV Venlo and FC Porto B. He has racked up a total of 80 career appearances so far. But his future at Arsenal looks bleak.
Born on June 5, 1998, Nwakali started his career at the Diamond Football Academy and after his performances at 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, in which he won the Golden Ball Award.
Nwakali would jump at another chance to return to England and impress after failing to make his mark at Arsenal during a three-year stay.
Nwakali moved to Huesca but failed to secure a regular first-team spot before he went on loan to Alcorcon, where he showed his quality once again.
His performances in the Segunda Division have reportedly caught the attention of Leeds, who are badly in need of another central midfielder this summer.
SD Huesca were delighted with the progress made by the Nigerian youngster during his loan spell at Alcorcón and have attempted to fend off interest shown in the versatile midfielder by offering him a new contract.
Nwakali would not have wasted time to sign on the dotted line if The Azulgranas were not demoted to the second-tier at the end of last season.
The 23-year-old has ambitions to represent the Super Eagles at next year’s World Cup and is aware that he must be playing for a top-flight European club to be considered for selection by manager Gernot Rohr.
Nwakali departed Arsenal in the summer of 2019 without playing a single game for the first team because he couldn’t sort out his papers.
Nwakali has just one year left on his contract at the Spanish second division side.
Allwell, the elder brother of Nigerian attacking midfielder once claimed that other nations had approached the player over a possible switch of international allegiance.
Nwakali famously led Nigeria’s U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, to their age-group World Cup title in 2015 and won the Golden Ball for the tournament’s best player.
Despite his success at the junior levels, the 22-year-old has played only once for the senior national team, scoring in a ‘B Team’ friendly against Atletico Madrid in Uyo in 2018.
Allwell explained that his brother has Nigeria in his heart, but will consider all offers put to him by other nations.
Kelechi however released a statement denying plans to switch international allegiances away from Nigeria.
“It is always an honour to wear the green of Nigeria and it is my dream to continue to do so. I categorically deny these reports and will continue to work hard until I am called upon.
“I am hugely proud to have represented Nigeria at various levels and am grateful to have had these opportunities in my career thus far.
“I have never considered playing for another nation and continuing to play for Nigeria at international level remains my priority and my dream.”
