Nigeria international Henry Onyekuru has revealed what transpired between him and Dani Alves the night he gave the Brazilian defender a difficult game.
Former Barcelona star Alves had so much problem handling the speed and directness of the Nigerian forward the first time they met on the pitch that he was convinced the youngster could develop into one of Africa’s finest players, says Onyekuru.
PSG traded tackles with Anderlecht in a UEFA Champions League group stage match back in 2017. Alves had switched Camp Nou for the Parc des Princes while Onyekuru was then on loan at the Belgian side from Everton.
The French side ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at the Lotto Park in Anderlecht, thanks to goals from Mbappe, Neymar, Cavani, and Di Maria.
Despite being on the losing side, Onyekuru – playing as a left wing-back – gave PSG’s right-back Alves a torrid time all night to emerge as the hosts’ best player on the night.
The Brazilian defender was so impressed with the 22-year-old’s display that he predicted the youngster could rise to the top of the game on the continent.
“While playing in Anderlecht, I met PSG, and my family called and encouraged me the night before the match,” the former Eupen star told Sporx.
“I wasn’t afraid to play against someone like Dani Alves, but he was a star I watched as I grew up. I just played my own game.
“We lost, but it was a good match for me. Alves said to me, ‘you are a good player’ and said that I could be one of the best in Africa.”
