Villarreal’s Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze has been listed among the top 50 youngsters that will be household names by this time in 2020.
He was the only Nigerian teenage player listed.
According to a report on UEFA.com, Chukwueze made the shortlist alongside, Chelsea’s teenage sensation, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jadon Sancho, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Brazil, Ethan Ampadu of Wales, Gelson Fernandes of Portugal, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco.
Chukwueze who has been likened to the legendary Arjen Robben has been shaking up the Spanish Liga and UEFA Europa League this term with his skills and aggressive play for Villarreal.
The 19-year-old broke into Villarreal’s first team this season after impressing with the B team and has so far scored four goals from 13 outings in all competitions this campaign for Villarreal.
Chukwueze whose contract is currently due to expire at the end of the season is currently attracting interest from several teams according to his agent Johnny Ogbah.
A FIFA under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria in 2015, Chukwueze came close to joining Arsenal in 2016 – arrived at Villarreal from Nigeria’s Diamond Academy in August 2017.
Other players that were listed include; Ilzat Akhmetov, Emil Audero, Nicolo Barella, Sander Berge, Josip Brekalo, Rafa Camacho, Giorgi Chakvetadze, CSKA’s Fedor Chalov, Alphonso Davies, Merih Demiral, Moussa Diaby, Joao Félix, Arnaut Groeneveld, Robert Gumny, Ianis Hagi, Amadou Haidara, Kai Havertz, Luka Ivanusec, Luka Jovic, Ozan Kabak, Alban Lafont, Andriy Lunin, Weston McKennie Brais Méndez, Nikola Milenkovic, Eder Militao, Juan Miranda, Nikola Moro, Arijanet Muric, Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Florian Müller, Reiss Nelson, Stanley N’Soki, Dani Olmo, Ricard Puig, Ionuț Radu, Javier Sanchez, Ismaïla Sarr, Mykola Shaparenko, Unai Simon, Oliver Skipp, Smith Rowe, Martin Terrier, Dayot Upamecano and Nicolo Zaniolo.
By Johnny Edward.
8 Comments
Samu chukwueze is a special talent. He is one Nigeria player that has the potential to win African footballer of the year.
That’s factual observation @mbah.i just pray and hope that he remains focus because most of those young boys when wealth starts dripping into their accounts they will loose it all. If he remain focus, committed and work very hard then, he will attain the greatest height in the game of football.
You are absolutely right Abdul, Eheanacho is case study.
Yes iheanacho was once top 10 youth talents but he burst it all because of money and fathers influence for him to play no9 by all means and become world best! I pray this new year will revive him and I hope he goes back to his real position as a support striker. All the best Nacho and Samuel more power to your elbow keep the fire burning I know you’ll make us proud God bless you!
Iheanacho simply needs to shed some weight and he will improve his speed and accuracy. Am I the only one seeing that he has grown fatter now than in his days with Man City? Weight plays some very pivotal roles in football. Carrying that extra pounds of flesh around slows you down badly.
It would have been two Nigerians on that list if Arnold Danjuma-Greonveld had opted to play for Nigeria.
The NFF and other parties concerned should move fast to snap up the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jordan Torunarigha, Felix Uduokhai, Kevin Akpoguma, Garvin Bazunu, Arthur Okonkwo and other kids coming up the block before other countries do. Most often, laxity, lethargy and unseriousness on the party of the NFF make us lose exiting talents to other countries. The cases of David Alaba, Dele Ali etc still leave pungent memories.
All these kids you made mention here are product of other people’s hard work. Can’t we set up good academics here or make football a priority too. The case of Tammy Abraham, Jordan Abe is still fresh in our mind. The thing is, if this players are very good, the country of their host will also want to keep them for future use. Nigeria have kids all over the world who play soccer, we should make our football attractive in national levels, including our league, abet you the will come back home themselves and not the other way round.
I was an avow fan and supporter of Iheanacho but to be honest im very much disappointed by his weight,and performanxes of recent.He showed so much promise but since he started seeing small money it has gotton into his head. I will soon lose his national team spot. i trust Rohr