Former Nigeria Super Eagles Taye Taiwo has revealed that he struggled to impress at Serie A giants AC Milan due to injury.
Taiwo who turned 35 on Thursday joined Milan on a free transfer from Marseille in 2011, but battled with an ankle injury in his debut season.
After showing early promises in Milan’s pre-season tour, Taiwo’s chances for selection in the 2011-12 season were hampered by the injury.
He managed just eight appearances across all competitions for the San Siro Stadium outfit, before his loan move to QPR for the remainder of the season.
He later switched to Dynamo Kyiv temporarily for the 2012-13 campaign.
Taiwo eventually left Milan to join Turkish outfit Bursaspor on a permanent deal in 2013.
“I was the first choice left-back during the pre-season, but an ankle injury at the start of the season was the reason why I lost my place in the starting XI at AC Milan,” he told Brila FM.
“The coach [Massimiliano Allegri] really wanted me to stay, but I chose first-team football at QPR ahead of staying on the bench at Milan.”
Taiwo featured for Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands and also took part at the 2006, 2008 and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Also, he was a member of the Eagles squad to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
