Italy’s Coach Luciano Spalletti Advises Eligible Nigerian Players Against Playing for Super Eagles

• Nigeria are blessed with an endless flurry of talents plying their trade in Europe
• The Football Federation have often lured a few players to represent Nigeria
• Italian national team coach has urged two youngsters not to feature for the Super Eagles

The constant influx of talents of Nigerian origin continues to create ripples across the football landscape in Europe.

From notable players like Bukayo Saka to the present Tottenham Hotspur full-back Destiny Udogie, a multitude of Nigerian-born talents are asserting their dominance on the European football stage.

The 2023-24 season has not failed to introduce a fresh wave of talents, with the latest sensations being Burnley attacker Luca Koleosho and Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode.

However, as admirers of Nigerian football diligently conduct their almost undercover scouting reports on these emerging stars in European football, the manager of the Italian National team, Luciano Spalletti, seems to have unsettling news that might not sit well with many Nigerian fans.

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Luciano Spalletti on Nigerian-born talents

According to a report from OwnGoalNigeria, the 64-year-old Italian national team coach has assured two players with Nigerian heritage that they will be called up during the upcoming FIFA international window in March. Koleosho and Kayode recently led Italy's U19 team to victory in the UEFA U19 Championship in Malta over the summer, according to a report from Football Italia.

The former Napoli manager also mentioned the possibility of including several new faces in the squad as part of the final preparations for the 2024 Euro in Germany next summer.

Despite the Burnley attacker expressing interest in playing for Canada over the Italian National side, there is disappointment among Nigerians who fear missing out on Kayode, who is gradually becoming a mainstay in Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina’s side.

Serie A striker rejects Nigeria

Sports Brief in another report stated Nigerian-born Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee is not willing to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations even if he gets invited to the national team by Jose Peseiro.

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The 22-year-old former Bayern Munich prodigy has been strongly linked with the Super Eagles following his superb performances in the Serie A this season, where he has made nine goal contributions.

Zirkzee, who was once approached to play for the Super Eagles by former coach Gernot Rohr, is eligible to represent the West African nation and the Netherlands after being born in Holland to a Nigerian father.