Kelechi Iheanacho enjoying life in Turkey, Celtic’s summer transfer mystery
Former Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho is enjoying life just months after leaving Celtic to join Turkish side Bursaspor as a free agent despite Martin O’Neill’s wishes…
The former Manchester City and Leicester man signed for Celtic as a free agent last year, and despite enduring injury problems, he played a significant part in the clubs double win, scoring vital goals in the title run in as well as a strike in the Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline.
Despite holding the option of triggering an extra year on his deal, Celtic opted against keeping hold of the Nigerian International, and when his contract expired Bursaspor swooped to make Turkey his next career stop.
His decision has paid off after netting 11 goals and providing two assists in just eight matches for his new club who sit second in the Turkish second tier, and are a good bet to win promotion to the Super Lig.
The 30 year old spoke about his new surroundings whilst on international duty with Nigeria, and is clearly happy with his latest career choice.
He told the Nigerian Football Federation: “As a player, you have your reasons for choosing any club you join in Turkey. For me, football is the same all over the world, no matter where you go. You play the same game everywhere.
“I don’t know how people rate the league, but it’s a genuinely tough division and not as easy as people think.”
Iheanacho who’s clearly enjoying life in Turkey added: “When you come here to play, you will see whether it is easy or not. My teammates who are here can testify to that as well. I’m enjoying it, and I know they are enjoying it too. It’s a very good league.”
It’s great to see Iheanacho doing well, but you can’t help but feel that Celtic made the wrong choice in not activating his extra one year option, just to save a few bob. Martin O’Neill stated quite clearly that he wanted both Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi to be signed on permanent contracts after completing their loan deals.
Both players had injury issues throughout the season but when push came to shove it was those two who stepped up to play significant roles in the dramatic title snatch from the grasp of Derek McInnes and his Hearts side.
Losing both plus loan signings plus Daizen Maeda has had such an impact and two of the three could quite easily have been at the club. Both players wanted to sign for Celtic, Martin O’Neill wanted them brought back but the decision was made by the Celtic Board not to offer Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi contracts.
And Celtic still only have ONE left back in Kieran Tierney until the youngster on loan from Chelsea is declared injury free. Remarkable really…
Here’s Kelechi speaking to the NFF…
