Manu Garba, the coach who led Kelechi Iheanacho to win the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2013 with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets has advised the in-form Leicester City striker not to return to his former club Manchester City on transfer.
His advice stems from speculations that Manchester City intend to trigger the buy-back clause in Iheanacho’s contract when he was sold to his current club four seasons ago.
“Kelechi should reject Man City and continue his development in Leicester City under coach Brendan Rogers who revived his career. I doubt if Pep Guardiola will give him the kind of playing time he is enjoying under Rogers, if he makes the switch back to the Etihad,’ said Garba who says he is not surprised the Nigerian is back to his best.
“I am not surprised by his scintillating form which has seen him win the Premier League player of the month award and notched 17 goals for the third placed Leicester and reached the FA cup final. I have always believed that Kelechi is very talented and that if property guided, he would become a world class forward.
“He has just begun to be the world class player I predicted he would be. Kelechi is still far from the big player we thought he would be. The world has yet to see his best. He didn’t become a hit early enough because he lost focus on getting to England but he has retraced his steps and he’s now on the right path to glory,” Manu who also coached Kelechi at FIFA Under -20 World cup told Complete Sports exclusively.
He continued: ” With Leicester City, Kelechi has added creativity to his game and he gives good assists to his co-striker more regularly now. He is now a player oozing with confidence and belief. If he remains focused and keep his form, I know bigger clubs will come for him but certainly not Man City under Guardiola.”
Asked why Kelechi is not replicating his club form with the Super Eagles, Coach Manu stated: “It is because the Eagles hardly have enough time to train together before matches. I believe the national team coaches will get to know that his best position is support striker when they have long camping”.
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja