World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, has revealed why he chose to sign to play for Arsenal even though he is a Barcelona fan.
Kelechi when he won the golden ball in world cup
Speaking on his trail after his sterling performance at the U-17 championships, World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, has revealed exclusively to TheCable why he chose Arsenal ahead of other big teams in Europe.
Responding if he supported Arsenal as a kid, Kelechi said: "Being a Barcelona fan does not mean I’ll want to play for them. I love Arsenal, I love the way they play. I just love everything about them. Reason I went there.
"Not that I supported Arsenal as a kid. I just love the way they play. But I was a Barcelona fan as a kid. But in the EPL, I support Arsenal," he said.
The younster highlighted the advantages of signing a five-year contract with Arsenal as well as the reasons for doing so.
"It is very good. At least, it will give me time to play for some time as I will be 18 in June. It will enable me to gain ground to be able to play in the first team.
"Arsenal believe in hard work and in giving what you have, and if the coach thinks that you can add to the team, he will always play you.
"Look at a player like (Alex) Iwobi, he is featured in every game because he adds something to the team’s performance. The coach believes in him.
"So, I don’t think my own will be different. If only I can work hard and be determined, yes I will. With that nothing can stop me from being in the first team," he said.
Kelechi also relishes the opportunity of teaming up with some of the biggest players in the world at Arsenal.
"It is a great honour and privilege to play alongside players I have always watched on TV. It has been my dream and heart desire to work hard so as to be able to play side by side with all these players.
"The facilities in Arsenal can’t be compared to what we have here in Nigeria. They have all it takes to groom their players. They have all it takes to make their players better off.
"You know playing in Arsenal as well as the national team will help someone to develop every day and improve his game," he said.