Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has revealed he is looking forward to meeting Spain and Sevilla legend Jesus Navas, Soccernet.ng reports.
Iheanacho and Navas met for the first time ten years ago at Manchester City when the Nigerian forward, fresh from winning the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, was finding his feet in England.
Navas played a crucial role in Iheanacho’s development, assisting the first of the Super Eagles striker’s 21 goals for Manchester City.
Iheanacho’a football journey took him to Leicester City where he has been for the last seven years, while Navas has been at Sevilla his entire career, save the four years he spent in Manchester.
Having signed for Sevilla on a free transfer, Iheanacho will reunite with the two-time European and 2010 world champion.
“That was a long, long time ago,” Iheanacho told Sevilla’s official website. “Jesus Navas is a legend in this city and this football club. He’s a great human being.
“He’s a lovely guy, and he’s a good footballer as well. He gave me my first assist, and I am grateful to him for that. Here we go again, I am coming to meet him in his home. I’ll be happy to see him soon and to play with him.”
Navas was not the only football hero Iheanacho shared the same dressing room with at Manchester City.
The Nigeria international worked with great strikers Sergio Agüero, Edin Džeko, Stevan Jovetic, and Álvaro Negredo, as well as coach Pep Guardiola
The lessons learnt from these personalities, Iheanacho hopes he can bring it to help propel Sevilla to success on the pitch.
“I took a lot from playing alongside those players and playing for a great coach in the world like Pep,” he added.
“They are all legends and all that. Hopefully all that I learned over there I will bring this football club and help this football club to achieve greater heights.”
Together with Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke, Iheanacho will be the first Nigerian player at Sevilla.
The 27-year-old forward hopes the Nigerian vibes will translate to goals for Sevilla.
Iheanacho said: “Obviously, it’s the first time having Nigerians in the team, so hopefully it will bring good luck to the team and we’ll give our best for the football club and for the fans to help the team to achieve great success this season.
“I think we’re happy to be here, and I know Nigerians are happy as well. So hopefully we enjoy it and it will be a good one.”
Iheanacho and Ejuke will likely make their La Liga debut on August 16 when they trade tackles with Las Palmas.
This post was last modified on August 2, 2024 3:14 pm
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