For nine years, Yakubu Aiyegbeni stood alone as the highest scoring Nigerian in a single season in all of Europe’s top five leagues.
However, last season, it all changed as Simy Nwankwo broke the long-standing record. Aiyegbeni had set the record after scoring 17 goals for Blackburn Rovers in the 2011/2012 campaign, but Simy reached new numbers with his 20 league goals for Crotone in the Italian Serie A last season.
It’s the second consecutive season the Super Eagles star reached the 20-goal mark after hitting the same number in the Serie B in the 2019/2020 season to help Crotone secure promotion back to the top-flight.
Simy’s 20 league goals did not only make him the highest-scoring Nigerian in a single campaign of Europe’s top five leagues, but he also became Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in the Italian top-flight, overtaking Obafemi Martins.
The 29-year-old also became Crotone’s all-time top scorer while he’s the first African to score 20 league goals in the Italian Serie A since Samuel Eto’o scored 21 goals for Inter Milan in the 2010/2011 campaign.
It’s important to note that Simy achieved this feat playing for a team that finished second bottom with just six wins and 45 goals.
But despite Crotone’s relegation, it’s expected that Simy’s performances would attract top-flight clubs this summer.
However, almost two months after the season, the 29-year-old’s future is still unclear. Aside from some transfer rumours linking him to Genoa, Sampdoria and Udinese, there hasn’t been any news of a potential move.
The only club that has shown a little bit of interest in his services is Monza, who failed to secure promotion to the top-flight last season.
Nonetheless, he’s better staying at Crotone than moving to another Serie B club. Crotone expect the former Gil Vicente man to leave this summer, but right now, they are yet to receive an official bid for his services.
Simy has revealed in the past that he wouldn’t have a problem staying with the Pythagoreans. Still, it will be disappointing if he plays in the second division next season following his impressive performance last campaign.
But with the transfer window not closing for the next two months, anything is possible.
