Emmanuel Amuneke had an impressive stint with Sporting CP in Portugal, which piqued the interest of Barcelona
Former Golden Eaglets head coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, shared insights about his time at Barcelona, revealing that injuries hindered his potential at the club, Soccernet.ng reports.
Amuneke made a mark with Egyptian side Zamalek, netting 26 goals in 71 appearances before embarking on his European journey with Sporting CP.
Similar to Victor Osimhen's breakthrough, Amuneke showcased his skills in Portugal, catching Barcelona's attention and securing a move to Spain.
Despite an impressive track record, with 19 appearances and a lone goal at Barcelona, he fell short of his previous performances.
Speaking to Tribal Football, the former Nigerian international disclosed that injuries thwarted his full potential at the Catalan club.
“Joining Barcelona was like a dream coming true,” he reflected. “Every young player aspires to play for a big team. However, playing where you can grow consistently is crucial, contrary to just seeking a big club. Of course, still, teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, etc have that appeal where everybody wants to go and play.”
He continued, “My experience at Barcelona was good. Coming from Portugal to Spain, it was a big step for me, but unfortunately, injuries began to happen a lot. When these injuries occur, you cannot give 100% as you are not in shape.
“But when this happens you need to be strong and have the confidence in yourself that everything will become better. You must remember this is part of the journey.”
Following his stint at Barcelona, the Super Eagles legend joined Albacete Balompié, ending his career with Al-Wehdat in 2004.
The former Barcelona winger has since made notable strides as a manager, leading Nigeria's U-17 team to a World Cup victory in 2015
There was no potential left. After knocking of 8-10 years of the age. By the mid 30s recovery time is poor , just look at what Overman’s did to Eguavon in the Holland friendly as part of Nigeria’s build up to France 98.