Bologna forward, Jonathan Zirkzee, has expressed his readiness to play for the Super Eagles if Netherlands refuse to extend invitation to him.
The Bologna star stated this in an interview with Soccersnews, where he also highlighted the strong competitions in the striking position for both countries.
He however, noted that he won’t hesitate to switch allegiance if he fails to get a call-up to the Dutch senior national team.
“But Nigeria is not a country that you just choose because you cannot play for your homeland. The competition there for attackers is perhaps just as great as in the Dutch team,” Zirkzee told Algemeen Dagblad via soccernews.
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“Nigeria has Boniface from Leverkusen and Osimhen from Napoli. And they have many more attackers.
“It’s not like I can think for a moment: The Netherlands isn’t calling, then I’ll choose Nigeria. Are they even pulling on me? Maybe.
“But my dream has always been the Dutch national team. And the European Championships are not necessarily a crossroads. Like, if that doesn’t happen then, I’ll look further.
“I’d be grateful if it did happen. If not, I have to make sure they call me. You hope to be there one day.”
Zirkzee has scored 11 goals in 43 league appearances for Bologna since his arrival at the club from Bayern Munich in 2022.
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COMMENTS
Hmmmm… Heard Ebere privately told a journalist same thing if Southgate doesn’t include him in the Euro 2024 squad.
Eat or pass for Nigeria?
Blessing in disguise or Greek gift these two? SE has become Option B?
We were first choice for Lookman, Iwobis, Ekong, and Aina. That’s why they special.
Nope not for Lookman!
11 goals in 43 games is not an impressive stat..We have many strikers at your level with zero chances of playing for the super eagles..
God bless you @Greenturf, you just spoke my mind. Imagine the insult, using us to promote himself just like Eberechi Eze did.
11 goals and 6 assists in 43 games for a truly 21yr old classic no 9 in the Serie A, for a team like Bologna is not an impressive stat….? Are you kidding me…?
This was after hitting 15 goals 8 assists on loan at Anderlecht 2 seasons ago as a teenager.
His “unimpressive stats” are already attracting interests from Dortmund, AC Milan, Arsenal.
Dr. Drey, I agree with you but relegating Nigeria to a second choice is what I don’t agree with. The player in question is not better than Osimhen and Boniface. He should be begging to play for Super Eagles. Even if that is what he has in his mind, he should have kept it to himself. Dem no dey buy wisdom for market O!
Ogah@Alex, you guys should go put your house in order. Pay-cut for call-ups, sharing of match bonuses, non payment/owing of match bonuses and allowances, discriminations and sectionalism, etc should be addressed ASAP. Or you think these foreign pros don’t know???
I’m certain you will do same if you were in his position.
Really Alex, are you being realistic…..?
You want kids who were not born in Nigeria, who have never lived in Nigeria, who have sparingly visited Nigeria, who were not developed by Nigeria’s developmental structures, but now playing at levels as high as Seria A, La Liga, EPL, Bundesliga or Ligue 1 structures to make Nigeria 1st Choice…??? Are you kidding…?
Really are you being Serious….?
Apart from Iwobi who had strong influence from his dad and his uncle, which other foreign born made Nigeria his first choice after reaching a top level…? We begged Lookman for ages, Ola Aina chose us after dozens of CAPs for England youth teams, Troost Ekong chose us after being forgotten by Netherlands, Leon Balogun was never even in the reckoning for Germany, Akpoguma had almost 60 caps for Germany up till U23 b4 changing his mind when Die Mannshaft callup never came, same for Jordan Torunarigha. I can go on and on
I bet even you will not make Nigeria your first choice.
We all have to make peace with the fact that these kinds will always fancy their home countries first before and over Nigeria. Our best bet is to get into their heads before the blow out. Once they are already in the limelight we can only wait and pray that after they must have played for all the youth teams of their home nations from U17 to U21, competitive caps at Senior level remains elusive.
It is not their fault that life has given them options to choose from.
We are complaining that our youth teams of late have not thrown up freshblood to replace the Ndidis, Iheanachos, Chukwuezes and the rest, and here we have a 21 year CF old who already has those kind of figures in a very difficult league like Seria A that isn’t youth friendly, and we are busy raising shoulders.
If he continues his development over the next 3 – 4 years you think he will not become a 20goals plus a season CF at the highest level…? Or you think Osimhen, Boniface and Awoniyi will remain as hot as they are now in 4 years from now?
@Dr Drey. This was a wonderful and articulated response without any insults or name-calling. Please let’s continue like this. Thanks.
Dr. Drey stop defending nonsense. He basically wasn’t smart about his comment. He could have said it differently. Moreover, we really don’t need him now, and that’s a fact.
@ Dr Drey these players you just mentioned did not run their mouths publicly that they will only play for Nigeria if their country of birth or where their football was developed did not consider them. Quite all right that more than 90% of them would have preferred not playing for Nigeria if they had their wish, and I don’t blame them for that, but they kept it to themselves. Zirkzee, with all arrogance, is telling the whole world that he would only play for Nigeria if Holland does not call him up. What nosence! The guy is not better than Osimhen, Boniface I insist. He has no wisdom.
You agree with what?Haven’t you heard of a certain David Okereke who has a better stat in serie a,as good as he’s yet to be given a call up to play for the super eagles.
This lad is clever,next you will read is,he’s in the list of players for Hollands next International games.
Players do this to get attention!
We’ve heard statements like this before and we still remember how it ended. The guy is playing out a script to get his first choice.
No doubt he is doing well in Serie A but I hope his case won’t be that of Eze and Abraham.
Now that Ekong is injured, the search light should be on good defenders like Ogbu, Osho, and Olisa
One defensive midfielder in the mold of Ifeanyi, Obinna
One or two playmakers like Samson
Tijani and Folorunsho.
With the return of Ndidu, Boni, Awo, Okoye(back up GK) and Tella to complement the other 12 playersthat showed up at AFCON.The Super Eagles should be able to attain its peak.
Mad man is on the loose trying to use Nigeria to get invitation for his Artificial Country. Osimhen will be laughing at this news. Holland that will not give him bronze before he retires because all they have to offer is Rainbow.
GBAM. I can spot blackmail at the extreme end of the stadium, if I see it. Opportunism. Thin and worn scripts to get one’s desires.