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Nigerian starlet Kelechi Iheanacho chooses Man City over Man Utd and Arsenal
NIGERIAN teenager Kelechi Iheanacho is travelling to England to negotiate a contract with Manchester City, according to Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi.
The 17-year-old striker was recently named the star player at the Under-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won, catching the eye of Manchester United's David Moyes and Arsene Wenger of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Portuguese giants Porto were also linked with a move for Iheanacho, but he has chosen City as his favoured move.
His father, James, revealed: "We prayed and, after talks with family members, we came up with Manchester City, believing he has a future there."
After the deal is concluded, the Blues plan to place Iheanacho into their academy in Ghana and wait until he earns enough caps to qualify for a work permit.
Iheanacho has been training with Nigeria's senior squad as they prepare for the African Nations Championship to be played early next year.
"Initially a young man came declaring that he was the agent of Iheanacho, but I declined to deal with him until I heard from the family because the boy is still a minor," Keshi, the Nigeria coach, told the Nigerian Guardian.
"It was soon after my rejection that I got a call from his father who told me that they have got a travelling visa to the United Kingdom and that I should oblige him with his son's release.
"I did and told the young man to go and do the nation proud at whichever club he finally chooses to settle down with."