Former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju has drawn a bold comparison between himself and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, Soccernet.ng reports.
Although for the B team of the La Liga club, Real Madrid, the ex-Nigerian international played 67 games, scoring 27 goals.
In an exclusive interview with RG, the former Real Sociedad player, fondly known as the “Headmaster” for his aerial ability, looked back on his career with pride.
“Ever since I was in secondary school, I loved using my head to score goals, and as I grew up, I mastered the art of scoring headers…that was my main asset,” Adepoju shared.
Known for his tireless box-to-box contributions, Adepoju played a crucial role for Nigeria in the 1990s, featuring in three World Cup squads and helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
He added: “I realised very young that I had this gift of being able to jump and head the ball no matter how hard it was, whereas other players would be afraid of heading it. I would describe myself as a workaholic who helped out in defence and scored so many goals, and who worked hard for the team.”
It was in this context that the 54-year-old compared himself to Bellingham, who has taken La Liga by storm since joining Real Madrid.
“I’d compare myself to Jude Bellingham. He’s a great box-to-box midfielder who’s very good at scoring with his head, but the difference is that, unlike me, he was able to play for Real Madrid’s first team,” Adepoju continued.
While he may not have worn the famous white shirt of Real Madrid’s first team, Adepoju enjoyed a notable club career in Spain with the likes of Racing Santander and Real Sociedad.
