Is Kelechi Iheanacho fighting a losing battle at Manchester City?
When a new talent bursts unto the scene, it usually provokes comparisons with legends from yesteryear, and the same could be said for the precocious Kelechi Iheanacho, whose remarkable goalscoring has lit up the blue half of Manchester in the last couple of seasons.
His contribution for the Citizens has hinted at a bright future, and with eight league goals in 26 games last season—coming
in 753 minutes, an average of a goal in just over 94 minutes—he has suggested that he will be an asset for Manchester City for years to come.
He’s highly rated by those in Manchester, and especially by former boss Manuel Pellegrini, and this season, under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola, he was meant to step up a gear.
However, the anticipated improvement hasn’t truly materialised, and after a series of indifferent performances and a lack of trust shown by his new manager, is it time for Iheanacho to seek pastures new?
The forward’s struggles can be traced back to the summer, right after Guardiola took over at the Etihad, and precisely when the youngster was called up to represent his country at the Olympics in Rio.
Initially included in the 35-man squad for the South American extravaganza, the call-up was quashed by his club on the grounds that his participation in preseason training under the new boss was imperative.
Representing your country is the most important thing for a professional—the greatest honour, in fact—and Pep denying the forward that experience was a huge ‘red flag’.
Iheanacho was vocal about wanting to represent Nigeria, but his wish wasn’t granted, and surely that will have hurt!
A similar incident once played out with Lionel Messi, when Guardiola had just been appointed as Barcelona boss in 2008.
Called up by head coach of the men’s football team, Sergio Batista, Messi was initially denied leave, before Guardiola fought his player’s case and the Argentine superstar ultimately guided his nation to the gold medal.
It’s bizarre that the same manager who once understood the importance of representing your country in the case of Messi, then pushed buttons to deny Iheanacho’s participation for Nigeria.
There’s also a feeling that Guardiola doesn’t trust the forward’s ability as much as his predecessor did, and that the Spaniard is just waiting for someone better to come along and take a spot in the squad as Sergio Aguero’s back-up.
Cynics may point to the signing of Brazilian wonderkid Gabriel Jesus, whose arrival certainly threatens Iheanacho’s progress, as evidence that Guardiola doesn’t have complete confidence in the Super Eagle.
The arriving wonderkid recently helped Palmeiras to their ninth Brasileiro title, scoring 12 goals in 27 games in the process.
