Super Eagles midfielder, Joel Obi, is set to join Turkish club, Alanyaspor from Italian outfit, Chievo Verona, reports Completesports.com.
Obi’s transfer to Alanyaspor, according to Gianlucadimarzio.com will be completed before Thursday deadline for end of the winter transfer window.
It will be first time Obi, who was in Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will be playing outside Italy.
The 27-year-old started his career as a youth player for Inter Milan before graduating to the first team.
He has also featured for Serie A side’s Parma and Torino before linking up with Chievo.
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This season, he has made 11 appearances for Chievo who are battling to escape the drop.
Obi ‘ s career has been blighted by persistent injuries which has limited his appearance at all the clubs he has played.
Two Nigerian players, Chidozie Awaziem and Azubuike Okechukwu recently linked up with Turkish outfit, Caykur Rizespor.
By Adeboye Amosu
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COMMENTS
Na wa o. Me use to respect this guyman because of the league he plays. now wey him don dey move to Turkey, how man pickin fit argue say make them invite am ahead of the likes of Mikel Agu who being dey play for Turkey last season. Now na the Agu wey dey play for reputable league.
How the table don turn turn well well.
Mehn this guy had so much potential. Injuries ruined his career.
How far with Azubuike Okechukwu? Dis is a guy that I expected a lot from, based on his performances at youth level and the Olympics. He also did quite well against Egypt in the 2017 Afcon qualifier, although we were eliminated. At youth level, he was the first choice midfielder, ahead of the likes of Etebo. If fit and in form, given the opportunity, I think Okechukwu can perform just like Etebo has been doing. He just has that raw talent. Also, I want to know what is going on with Stanley Amuzie, a guy many thought was going to be Taye Taiwo 2.0, so to speak. Now that we need a quality, left footed left back, in my opinion, only injury or a ridiculous loss of form will stop me from considering the guy for invitation. Again, Amuzie, like Okechukwu, put in a good shift against Egypt in the first leg, keeping Salah relatively quiet until the Egyptian legend equalized for the Pharaohs at the last minute. Although Amuzie was widely blamed for that goal, I still think he did well, and should get another opportunity to show wetin dey. Rohr, over to you!
Hi Pompeii,
Stanley Amuzie: the Olympic bronze medalist, whose eye catching performances at the 2016 Olympics surely captured your imagination, was touted for greater things after securing a contract with Lugano of the modest Switzerland league.
However, greatness has thus far eluded the Super Eagles left back who has only featured in a meagre 9 out of the 18 games this season with 1 as a starter, 2 as a substitute and 6 as a bench-warmer.
In fact he has been nowhere near the match day squads in the last 8 matches apart from 1 time in December when he was left on the bench in his team’s 2:2 draw against Xamax.
At present form, Stanley Amuzie has no place in national team consideration.
Azuibuke Okechukwu: of the 17 league games he was available for in Egypt’s Pyramids FC, the Olympic bronze medalist only featured 7 times with 3 coming as a substitute, 3 as a starter and 1 as a bench warmer.
21 year old Azubuike, who made a name for himself while playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with Bayelsa United, was reported on 26 January to have clinched a 6 month loan deal to Çaykur Rizespor in a more familiar territory having previously played in Turkey.
Speaking on how this move will impact his national team chances, the midfielder said: “I’m excited really to be back in Turkey because everyone wants to be in Europe.
I thought so also, but I didn’t get a call-up, hopefully with my move back to Turkey, I would get a call up (to the Super Eagles) as I’m ready always to play for my country,” Azubuike stated.
If you ask me, I think the chances of Azuibuke being invited to the national team at this time are slim owing to the plethora of options open to Rohr in that department.
Amuzie is currently out with an “unknown injury” according to Transfermarkt and I agree as he has not played regularly for his club side this season cannot be considered for any Nigeria side.
Azubuike on the other hand has had a bit more play time, and I agree will not be able to force his way into the team. Best he can hope for is to get into the starting lineup for his new team Rizespor and maybe a spot in the under 23 team against Libya in March
But competition for places in the midfield there keen also with a plethora of options
Two names ahead of Azubuike (6 games) are Ifeanyi Matthew (over 25 games) of Lillestrom and Kingsley Michael (17 games) of Perugia
Both are regular starters this season in Central Midfield and are almost certain to be called up for the under 23 squad next month
Thanks Deo and BigD. Granted, Super Eagles camp is not a place for rehabilitation. So if they are not in form currently, their invitation is not justified. But if there was a way to help revive their careers by perhaps helping them into modest clubs where they can play regularly, that would benefit the national team in the long run. Doing this, not just for Okechukwu and Amuzie, but for other players that have shown they have “potential”, will only increase the pool of players the SE handlers can select from, and ensure we have the strongest bench possible. After all, strong teams win games, but strong benches win competitions.