The Nigerian Olympic Under-23 team is counting on the availability of striker Kelechi Iheanacho for the men’s football tournament at Rio 2016, but the player says that his English Premier League club Manchester City needs to give him permission before he can commit to his Olympic dream.
Coach Samson Siasia has selected Iheanacho in his provisional squad for the games in Brazil, but the player will not make the trip to South America without his club agreeing to his departure.
The Dream Team VI is yet to receive a reply from the English Premier League team concerning Iheanacho’s release to form part of Siasia squad.
The Olympic Men’s Football Tournament takes place in August, but clubs are not obliged to release players to take part in the competition, which puts the Nigerian striker’s availability at risk.
The European club season begins in August, and Iheanacho would be forced to miss part of pre-season and the new campaign if he commits to the national team.
Iheanacho needs to consider the fact that he has a new coach at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola taking over at the Citizens. Not taking part in pre-season training would inevitably put him at a disadvantage for selection when he returns from Rio, and could give a negative impression to the new Spanish tactician.
After building a strong case for his inclusion in the first team at Man City with his performances in 2015-16, his departure for the Olympics could put that in jeopardy, not to mention the risk of picking up an injury in Brazil.
A total of 14 goals came courtesy of the 19-year-old in his debut season for Manchester City, which is one of the reasons he has been included in the Nigerian provisional squad.
The player has spoken up concerning his place at the Olympics, admitting that he needs to leave the final decision up to his Premier League club.
“If your country wants you to play for them you surely have to go, but it’s not up to me to decide,” Iheanacho told The Telegraph.
“If they allow me to go, I will go, but they (Manchester City) haven’t concluded that yet so I don’t know. It’s not left for me to decide if I am going to the Olympics or not,” he said.
At the official unveiling of Guardiola at Man City, the Nigerian starlet had kind words for his new coach.
“Everyone knows Pep and what he can do. I think he is a great manager and I think he will bring many things to this team,” he added.
“We have great players and we have made some great new signings so I just need to work hard and I will get my chance to play. I am happy with what I did last season and now I have to work really hard this season to get something for the team and work for the team as well,” Iheanacho concluded.
