A popular blogger on Arsenal Youth set up has revealed to Owngoalnigeria.com that captain of the Nigeria Under -20s Kelechi Nwakali will not be promoted to the first team of Arsenal upon his arrival at the club this Saturday.
Highly rated Nwakali who won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the last Under-17 World Youth Championship which Nigeria won will arrive Arsenal on Saturday to complete a move to the Gunners which according to some Nigeria media will automatically see him pick up the number 25 jersey last won by former Nigeria captain Kanu Nwankwo.
” There”s no way he will be promoted to the first team just like that as he is yet to formally sign a contract, what is on ground now is just an understanding that he will sign a five year deal which could be as early as Monday” Tom Brich told Owngoalnigeria.com.
“Talks about been handed a squad number are wide off the mark, no way is he entitled to that at least for now, we are not even sure of his work permit status for now the club is yet to even apply for one, it has to go through a panel on the argument of special talent.
” The panel in recent times turned down Carlos Vela who has about same pedigree like Nwakali back then, it’s a bit relaxed now but it’s only after he has been granted a work permit that we can start talking about him in an official capacity as an on field player for either the youth or main team of Arsenal.
“The best bet is to loan him out in January or even earlier than that, he has a six month visa and he has spent a month in Nigeria, he will team up with the B team of Arsenal from where his progress will be monitored before the main team returns from their pre season in the USA”.
