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Greek top club, AEK Athens, failed in a last ditch bid to prise away Nigerian midfielder, Obinna Nwobodo, from Goztepe of Turkey as the transfer window closed on Monday night, but will return in the summer for the deal, Completesports.com has been told.
The 30-time champions of Greece had shot to the top of the pile amongst a plethora of European clubs that have shown interest in Nwobodo following his spectacular season at Goztepe. However, they were discouraged from making a bid for the player by his agents. A $2m (about N1b) bid for Nwobodo from American M.L.S club, F.C Cincinnati, in early January had collapsed at the very last minute.
Vincent Alumona of Krakovia Sports Limited, a registered Intermediary with the Nigeria Football Federation, N.F.F. who is the advisor to the former Rangers International of Enugu playmaker, explains the transfer bid frenzy.
“AEK were very determined, as it turned out,” Alumona told Completesports.com
“They had been in the picture for Obinna for quite a while but it was Cincinnati that made the first move for the player. And after weeks of negotiations ended with the player deciding to remain with Goztepe so he can help them through their struggle against relegation, it became quite clear that a transfer for the player in this winter transfer window was off the cards.”
He added: “So, when AEK became serious a couple of days to the closure of the window, we advised that they shouldn’t bother with a bid. Moreover, they had $1.5m (about N800m) in mind as transfer fee. If a transfer couldn’t go through after Goztepe agreed to take $2m(about N1b) from Cincinnati, how can it happen for $1.5m (about N800m)?
“Anyway, money isn’t the issue per se. It has to do more with principles. The player doesn’t want to abandon the ship, so to say.”
Despite being shown the ‘red card’, Completesports.com learned that AEK would go on to improve their offer for Nwobodo, and later on Monday night, presented a proposal to the Goztepe President to pay $2m (about N1m) to complete the transfer and another $1m (N500m) in add- ons, totalling $3m (about N1.5m).
This was however rejected as both clubs and player had earlier resolved to push all transfer matters to the summer, when the season would have ended.
15 Comments
Even CSN really believes in Nwobodo and believes he will bring real added value to the SE set up – It’s clear from the close coverage the publication/site has been giving him recently.
But really, this guy is a dynamite. Although seems a little light on feet, you can’t but get excited by his sharpness, intelligence and quick thinking upfront. I see someone that’s able to walk straight into the starting 11 or at least a sure banker for a match sub.
If Eguavoen can bring in this guy, Lookman and the rest guys knocking on the door, I’ll watch the WCQ playoff with 101% confidence.
@Kel thats the thing again all this clamoring for every player is doing us no GOOD. How will this guy even compete with top defenders please bro lets aim High we are going to world Cup to try compete for gods sake not to make up Numbers. Bro Nwobodo still has a long way to go for now. We still fail to see that.
Again Nigeria lost because we could not unlock Tunisia. Period!!1 Lets us aim High and try build a rugged team. NFF should make all means to get the Best and build a formidable side we need the likes of Michael Olisa, Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella and so on Victor Moses (utmost importance), Emma Dennis, Eberechi Eze. Guys playing fast paced ball and electric. Did you know Michael Olisa is a Free kick specialists Nigerians we need to start aiming high. This Nwobodo will just come and frustrate us Aim High Bro. Not Average, This guy is BAng On average Bro.
Ghana is strengthening up with the likes of that Ibrahima guy and you are Talking of Nwobodo Nawa o. They are taking this serious. Let us fool ourselvesz abd Go there with Nwobodo and Musa and co we may aswell pack our bags already
@Ugo, you really nailed it.
Although he falls into the category of upcoming stars (Alhassan Yusuf), I still rate him higher. Here is the clip of the goal he scored recently.
https://youtu.be/6zUsqM2d8VY
What’s special about this goal bro? I was thinking it was a cracker of a goal.Pls, let’s stop this over hype of our players it’s doing us no good.We over hyped our players
These guys should take steps up and not these small vision life teams, what is AEK Athens of Greece? Na wa!
@Chima the thing tire me o! I wonder Why Nigerians are like this.
We need a competitive team not a damn average one for goodness sake
Obinna Nwobodo cannot be ignored by the Super Eagles’ handlers anymore. Nobody can perpetually suppress quality
We don’t need him we need Micheal Olisa and Co. Nwobodo is not good enough he must prove himself in a Top League World cup no be akara abeg!.. This kind of a Guy a Koulibaly will lock him down easily..
This guy should aim for clubs in Spain , Germany, France or Italy.. which one be Greece. Nigeria players step up biko
@ugo iwunze you always have eye for good players but I doubt if the so called 442 local man is thinking in the same direction as you,
unlike one fella name jimmyball that keep pumping old men parading themselves as youth on this platform and out of selfish and jealous mindset criticising a 22 year old boy,only him can tell us what he achieved at the age of 22 to 25.
@Tola Thanks bro. But it’s not rocket Science. If we keep this mediocrity up Burkina Faso will overtake us in ball seriously. Nigeria has too much quality in World Football to keep assembling a bunch of Jokers for major tournaments it is Sad bro.
I blame pinnick he us decieving us and doing nothing for our ball while, being obsessed with his mumu position in FIFA
@Tola… Why are you so obsessed with my balls.
Augbameyang being rejected by Arsenal and he walks to Barca behold he is on verge of earning a Contract. If na our Papas they’ll head to Oblivion Saudi. Shame no dey catch person!
No be small o bros @Chima the thing tire me die I swear down.. sotey our yeye politicians go carry captain armband give dem thanking them for downgrading den opening their mumu mouth and calling a country clearly in the rabbit whole a so called yeye giant.. DREAMERS!!!!!. Yeye country.