Brazilian football legend, Ronaldinho has revealed that former Super Eagles midfielder, Austine Okocha failed to actualise his full potentials after he made the decision to join Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.
Okocha, who was known for is mesmerizing skills, joined Bolton in 2002 from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
The Brazilian who played alongside Austin Okocha during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain from 2001 to 2003, said they would watch the Nigerian freestyling during training.
According to the quotes made available by Frank KhalidUK, Ronaldinho believes Okocha would have received more recognition if he went to Italy, or Spain instead of England.
“Jay Jay Okocha, wow!! That man made football to listen to him. At training, we would watch him doing a freestyle, whatever he wanted to do, the ball would do it. But his problem is that he was too keen to move to England,” Ronaldinho said.
“I didn’t like the decision, at least in Italy or Spain, there, they allow you to play your skilled football without interfering with your play. In La Liga or Serie A, he would definitely get a chance to play for a big team, because they love skilled players over there. In England, you stand no chance of playing for a big team if you’re that skilled. They think it’s not necessary.”
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COMMENTS
What an observation from a legend. No wonder Nigerian players rot in England. Look at Joe Aribo, Etebo,Iheanocho, Onuchu to mention but a few who went to England and their careers nose dive immediately. Apart from the mechanical football in England like Ronaldihno has rightly pointed out , England will always prefer their own players to other players. The question that is now begging for answer is why the craze among Nigerian players to move to England that is a death trap. Had Aribo known he will have remain in Rangers or move to Italy or Spain. Naturally Nigerian players are Skillful but England dont value skill like Ronaldihno have observed. I think even Mikel though relatively successful will have done better in Spain or Italy instead of England that suppressed his skill set and turned him to a defensive midfielder. Its time Nigerian players listen to Ronaldihno and stop this craze about going to England to avoid waste of talent
This is why I worry about Osimhen likely move to the premiership.At Napoli, the team is set up to play for him.It will not be so in England.I will prefer he move to PSG or Real Madrid.
HE choosed MONEY over the GLORY his SKILLS could have FETCHED him…
You can say he was GREEDY there…
But talking about SKILLFUL PLAYERS not EXPRESSING themselves and PLAYING in BIG TEAMS in the EPL, HAZARD and co was SKILLFUL and still EXPRESSED himself with a BIG TEAM(CHELSEA)…
So what is RONALDIHO not saying? Dont seem to agree with with him there..m
Abi OGA still dey look football and it’s league with some early 2000 glasses? Football/leagues don evolve o
Or he granted this interview after just coming back from the club..
LMFAO…
That’s why he keep telling Oshimen to go there too as if EPL is the best place to be recognized…
Spain would love such a player not england, they will rather hype Sancho than give you your accolades.
If okocha had moved to Man utd, Arsenal or Chelsea would Ronaldinho be having this conversation?……I see people twisting the narrative here to argue against osimhen moving to the EPL……..That’s been economical with the truth……All the So called Nigerian players that rot in England did they play for a top6 team?……Did Mikel rot in England?……Did Kanu rot in England?…..Did yobo rot in England?……Did Aiyegbeni rot in England?……Did Odewingie rot in England?……Did Iwobi rot in England?……Why using aribo and Onuachu who to me are not even generational talents to judge everyone and even place a restriction on where players can go?……. For God’s sake Osimhen has a price tag of over 130 million and 60 percent of the clubs that can afford that money are playing in England while the remaining 40 percent who play in other leagues might not be willing to part with such amount……Even in the England only Man utd and Chelsea really need osimhen at the moment because all other top 6 clubs have established number 9s…….So what do you guys suggest?…… Osimhen should go the mentens way? osimhen should stay and decline like coulibaly before leaving Napoli? osimhen should end his career at Napoli like Insigne? Napoli should not make any profit from the 75 million they invested in osimhen?……..Na wa o….. People that know nothing about the football business just judge matters they know nothing about.
Nigerians will concur because another country person has said it. Everyone shouting Osihmen, chukwueze etc go to EPL. For what? To be destroyed?
If Osimhen or Chukwueze move to Man utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal,or Man City believe me they will not be destroyed………haba……other African players are thriving at this same clubs then why can’t Nigerian players do same?…….or are Nigerian players inferior?……
If mane,Salah,Partey,Keita,Toure brothers,Drogba,Essien,and Co can Excel in these clubs then what is wrong with Nigerian players?…..No wonder a Nigerian player has not won the African footballer of the year for almost 2 decades now…….With orientation like this am afraid it might elude Nigeria in this our generation.