Former Manchester United youngster Tosin Kehinde has revealed the reason behind his decision to pledge his international allegiance to Nigeria ahead of England.
The 21-year-old was part of the Dream Team squad that played Libya in the U-23 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifier in Tunisia in March 2018.
The Attacking Midfielder joined the Manchester United academy at the age of 13, and he was offered a new contract when his deal expired in June 2018. Still, he rejected the offer to join Portuguese club, Feirense.
However, he is currently on loan at Danish club, Randers FC. Kehinde said even after spending ten years in the UK, he felt more Nigerian than Briton, more so, he was always surrounded by Nigerians.
“Even though that I've grown up in the United Kingdom I've always been surrounded by Nigerians,” Kehinde told Eagles Tracker when asked why he chose to play for Nigeria over England.
“My mom is always trying to ingrain that in me, the friends that I have, my closest friends, are Nigerians.
“Of course when you are in the United bubble, you can be carried away with the English things, but when I get home, it is all about Nigeria – from the food that I eat, everything.
“My own community is just Nigeria, so it has always been in me. I feel Nigeria, we as a people, it means more to us, the football and playing for the fans you can see how much it means to the fans for the team to do well.
“When you are doing well, and when the team does well, I don't think another group of people will love you as much as Nigerians.”
Kehinde, who was born in Lagos, but raised in the UK, was unable to make any senior appearance for Manchester United during his seven years spell in Manchester.
He made 17 appearances for Randers in all competitions before the Danish league was suspended because of coronavirus.
