Iheanacho Talks About His Move to Turkey

Kelechi Iheanacho, Super Eagles striker, has denied that money was the main reason for his surprising summer move from Scottish champions Celtic to Bursaspor in Turkey's second division.

In a chat with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before the friendly match against Russia on Tuesday, the 29-year-old said the decision was personal. Iheanacho helped Celtic win a domestic double last season, but he chose not to extend his contract, leaving fans shocked about his move to Turkey’s 1. Lig.

He dismissed claims that he was chasing big money, saying the quality of the league is more important. “As a player, you have your reasons for choosing any club you join in Turkey,” Iheanacho told the NFF.

“For me, football is the same all over the world, no matter where you go. You play the same game everywhere. Several of us are in Turkey, and in the division where I play, there are many Nigerians that people might not know about. But it is a good league.”

Iheanacho continued, “I don’t know how people rate the league, but it’s a genuinely tough division and not as easy as people think. 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.”

So far, Iheanacho's choice seems to be paying off. He has settled in well and scored 11 goals with 2 assists in just eight league matches for Bursaspor.

His impressive performance led to a call-up to the national team by coach Eric Chelle. Iheanacho now hopes to carry his great form at the club level into the international match against Russia.