Villarreal manager Javier Calleja believes Nigerian winger Samuel Chukuweze still has a lot to learn and must remain at the club to further hone his skills, reports Completesports.com.
Chukuweze has been linked with a January move to Premier League side, Chelsea following a string of impressive performances for the Yellow Submarine.
But Calleja is adamant the time is not right for the dazzling winger to move to a bigger club.
”I think Sami is very grateful for everything Villarreal has given him. He is very young and has so much to improve, and he knows it,”Calleja told Marca.com.
“It will be difficult for him to find a place where he is more comfortable and more familiar like our club. He must continue working because he needs more experience before he can move to another league.
“He has time ahead and he knows he has the love of the fans and the total support of teammates and coaching staff.
“He must concentrate on playing here now and wait for the right time to move to a bigger team.”
Chukuweze joined Villarreal in 2017 from local side, Diamond Football Academy. He broke into the first team last season and scored five goals in 26 league appearances.
The 20-year-old was also voted Villarreal’s young player of the year.
This season, Chukwueze has scored three goals while providing two assists in 16 league appearances.
He has also become a regular for the Nigeria national team with 13 appearances and two goals to his name.
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COMMENTS
It is as simple as can be: if a big club like Chelsea should come calling for Samuel Chukwueze, I think he should go.
Now, let’s put things in perspective. If Chukwueze chooses to go to Chelsea, it might work for him or it might nit work – such is life.
But, should he and his advisers choose for him to stay in Villarreal because of the fear of failure, then I think that is an inferior complex way of thinking (with all due respect).
I draw parallels with Chukwueze and when England’s Raheem Sterling (a very young Liverpool player at the time) was wanted by lavish spenders Manchester City.
In 2015, Sterling was just 20 years old when Manchester City came calling but England and Liverpool legend John Barnes had this to say at the time:”The time is not right for him to move from Liverpool.
If he goes to Manchester City, to give himself a chance of winning the league, he will not become a regular for them.”
Fast forward 2019, Raheem Sterling did go to Manchester City in 2015 where he has developed into one of the deadliest wingers in English football (plus he has won trophies).
Celestine Babayaro found success at Chelsea and so did Mikel Obi with Nwankwo Kanu finding success in another London club in the way of Arsenal.
If these ex-Nigeria internationals could have found success in Chelsea, I don’t see what Chukwueze should be scared of!
Thumbs up @deo. You summarised the whole idea. Of course, Villarreal will not want him to move except the financial gain is really huge (which can’t be guaranteed in this case cos of Samu’s current market value).
It’ll be a good steal for Chelsea plus they don’t have a natural left baller currently who gets the ball stuck to his feet while weaving his way to the goal like Chukwueze. The boy will likely walk straight into Lampard’s first 11. No competition. Win-win for club and player.
Thanks Kel; I think the matter is a no brainer.