Chuba Akpom says he was sold on the move to Sky Bet Championship club Middlesbrough after a phone call with manager Neil Warnock.
Akpom joined Boro from Greek club PAOK last week.
Warnock sold the club’s vision to Akpom earlier in the summer and the striker quickly make up his mind to return to England after two years in Greece.
“I didn’t need much convincing,” Akpom said, speaking to the press via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon.
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“The gaffer called me. That shows how much he wants me to be here. As soon as I had that conversation I spoke to my agent and said I’m ready to come back.
“Everyone knows about the gaffer, he’s a top personality and character. He’s not just a manager, he’s a mentor. He’s got that magic touch, I’m hoping he can have that with me.
“He’s amazing. Everyone knows the gaffer’s record and his success with promotions. He’s done it in the past and wants to do it again.
“The first thing he said to me is he thinks he can make me a Premier League player. When a manager says that it’s a no brainer.
“A massive club, a manager who wants to get the best out of me – what more do you want?”
6 Comments
Big up brother!!!
Stupidity of the lowest order!
Or is it not the same PAOK that will be playing KRASNODAR for UEFA Champions League qualification tonight?
Even if PAOK doesn’t make the UCL, I think EUROPA LEAGUE will be certain.
This one no get better adviser or probably surplus to requirement at PAOK.
Although not every available eligible player will make the Super Eagles squad, the NFF’s policy of attempting to persuade as many dual nationality footballers as possible to play for Nigeria has invariably increased the pool of players that Super Eagles fans have the pleasure to track and celebrate week in week out in club football.
And celebrate I will, this news of Chuba Akpom’s return to Britain albeit in the second tier English football.
Some years ago, Akpom’s movement would have been irrelevant to me. However, having committed his international future to Nigeria, he finds himself within the radar of Super Eagles fans having now identified as a Nigerian.
“It was a personal decision (to choose the Super Eagles) . I’m Nigerian and my whole family feel very Nigerian and it will be nice to represent Nigeria.
It will also be nice to link up with Alex [Iwobi] again and play for the national team,” said Akpom last year.
However, will he get the opportunity to kit up with his former Arsenal team mate in Nigeria colours?
Akpom trained with the Super Eagles in 2017 along side Ola Aina who himself has since then gone on to accumulate 15 caps for Nigeria.
However, since the 24 year old committed his international future to Nigeria, the centre forward landscape has shifted dramatically with lethal sharpshooters emerging from every corner.
Osimhen is currently the commander in chief with the likes of Iheanacho, Dessers, Maja, Onuachu, Simmy waiting to mount a coup.
Others like Tolu Arokodare, Taiwo Awoniyi also harbour national team ambitions.
But all hope is not lost Akpom. Powerful performances in the English Championship, laced with goals and crowned with promotion into the English Premier League will definitely swing national team invitation-pendulum his way.
He is going to a club with Premier League ambitions firmly in their sights. Akpom, for his part, has got national team ambitions in his sights.
He might yet re-unite with Iwobi sooner rather than later – both as English Premer League players and fellow Nigeria internationals.
But, it remains to be seen who will give way to him among the deadly centre forwards currently available to the Super Eagles.
Chuba Akpom’s game caught the eye long ago, what a gifted and complete forward he is. Back at Arsenal during those tune up preseason matches, I’ve wondered why this young man was not given a look in or game time at the Emirates by Wenger. I could not stop wondering why Iwobi would get a chance and Chuba,who a fellow academic graduate with such amazing qualities would not be considered, such was the high respect I had for his game which left me puzzled and mystified at the time. During those times with limited game time for Arsenal, he was approached by the representatives of the Nigerian football over the possibility of representing Nigeria at the Senior level. I was shocked to learn that he, Chuba considered himself too big to play for Nigeria, thus, fancying his chance of getting a call up to represent the three lions when the likes of Ola Aina, and Iwobi both got call ups to the national team, the opportunity they grabbed with both hands. I was particularly relieved when about a year or two ago, I read the piece of news that he’s open to cap for Nigeria at which time, the SE is already buzzing with top quality players in the attack.At the time in question, I was equally impressed that the 6ft center forward after strings of loan stints at the Championship was able to take a responsible risk to take his stocks to Greece where he won both the season’s league and the Greek cup with PAOK. With a return to England in the Championship, it’s hoped that he would be able to make great mark at Middlesbrough to further brighten his chance of earning a call up to the national team and the live his dream of playing at the Premiership.
I concur, Fidelenny.
The purpose is for we Nigerian to be watching u play so that to earn a Super eagle call up.But inability to decide in time to play for Nigeria during d period Iwobi decide (in year 2015) will make you lose call up for both Nigeria and England. Unless you pray for God intervention.
Others should learn from China Akpon.