Kanu, Martins, Moses,Taribo: Who is the Greatest Nigerian to Play for Inter Milan?
Nigeria has been blessed with great and successful players from generation to generations. Some of these players had gone ahead to make names for themselves and making the country proud on the footballing map, while some of them are on the verge of doing the same. However, we are exploring some Nigerians who had played and are still playing for one of the greatest Italian clubs, Inter Milan to be precise.
Number one on the list is none but;
1. Obafemi Martins
(Getty Images)
Obafemi Martins, a former Nigeria's National Team Striker who is referred to as Obagoal by fans due to his prowess in front of goal.
Martins was signed by Inter Milan in 2001 for a €750,000 transfer fee and in his first season he scored 23 goals for the youth team, helping them to win the Campionato Nazionale Primavera in 2001–02 season.
(Getty Images)
His form for the youth side led to his first-team league debut the following season, starting in a match against Parma on 22 December 2002 which was won by Inter 2–1.
Though, Martins didn't become a regular member of the first team squad until the 2002–03 season.
In year 2005, Martins signed a contract with Inter Milan that would see him stay at the club until 2010. Martins eventually left Inter in 2006 due to the arrival of Crespo and Ibrahimović.
He scored the total of 39 goals during his days with Inter.
(Getty Images)
Obagoal has the record of becoming the first teenage to score in three consecutive Champions League seasons when he was in Inter.
Martins won a Serie A in 2005, Coppa Italia: 2004, and 2005 and Supercoppa Italiana in 2005.
2. Joel Chukwuma Obi
(Getty Image)
He is a Nigerian Left Midfielder who was born on 22 May 1991.
He started his Football Career at Inter Milan as Youth Footballer of the club, he won the Italian Under 17 Championship with Inter and was noticed by José Mourinho and was promoted to the Senior Team. Obi was a member of the Inter Milan Squad that beat Bayern Munich in Champions League Final in 2010, though he didn't play any match for the Squad.
Fast forward to late 2010 when Rafael Benitez took Obi to first team and he made his first debut for Inter in a Champions League group stage match against Werder Bremen of Germany on 29th of September, 2010.
Obi made his Serie A debut on 17 October 2010 against Cagliari when he replaced Philippe Coutinho in the 66th minute. He is currently playing at Chievo.
Obi's overall appearances for Inter is 71 appearances and 3 goals from 2010-2015.
Obi won; a Coppa Italia in 2010, Supercoppa Italians and FIFA Club World Cup in 2010.
3. Victor Moses
(Getty Images)
Is a Nigerian winger born on 12 December 1990.
In 2019–20 season, Moses who is still a Chelsea player was loaned to Inter Milaniafter his Chelsea/Fenerbahçe deal was cut short. Moses signed for Inter Milan on a six-month loan deal with an option to make the deal a permanent one on 23 January 2020. The deal saw Moses reuniting with his former Chelsea Manager Antonio Conté who has so much love for the winger.
(Getty Images)
Moses made his club debut on 29 January, as a second-half substitute against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals. He made his league debut a few days after, on 2 February, starting on the right in a 2–0 win at Udinese.
4. Taribo West
(Getty Images)
Taribo West was born on 26 March 1974 is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is best remembered for his various unusual and colourful hairstyles. West is one of the most travelled Nigerian Footballers.
There is no doubt that West is one of the greatest defenders Nigeria has ever seen.it
In June 1997, West was transferred to Italian side Internazionale, from French Club Auxere on a four-year deal.
(Getty Images)
He made his competitive debut for the club in a 1–0 Coppa Italia victory over Foggia on 3 September 1997. Subsequently, West scored his first goal for Internazionale in a 2–1 Serie A win against Atalanta on 9 November 1997. He also scored the extra time winning goal against Schalke 04 in the 1997-98 UEFA Cup quarter-finals.
Eventually, Internazionale won the competition led by Ronaldo and Iván Zamorano, with West being sent off in the final against Lazio.
West shared dressing room with football greats like Ronaldo, Vieri, Zamorano, fellow compatriot Kanu etc.
However, in year 2000 West switched to Inter's bitter rival A.C Milan. He is one of those players who had played for the two Milan clubs.
West won a UEFA Cup with Inter in 1997-98.
5. Victor Nsofor Obinna
(Getty Images)
Nsofor is Nigerian Professional Footballer born on 25 March 1987 who is playing as a striker.
In 2008, Obinna signed for Inter for a €1.2 million transfer fee in a three-year contract. English club Everton attempted to immediately sign him on loan, but were unable to secure a work permit for the player.
(Getty Images)
Obinna's first goal for Inter came on 19 October in a 4–0 win over Roma. Internazionale coach José Mourinho described Obinna as one of Inter's best talents for the future.
6. Kanu Nwankwo
(Getty Image)
Legendary ex Super Eagles attacker, Kanu In 1996, moved from Ajax Amsterdam to Serie A side Inter Milan for around $4.7 million.
(Getty Image)
In the of 1996 Kanu led Nigeria to Olympic glory and didn't return to Inter untill late 1997 as a result of the heart surgery he had after the Olympics in Atlanta.
(Getty Image)
However, he left Inter for Arsenal in 1999. He was a UEFA Cup winner with Inter in 97/98 season alongside Taribo West.
7. Nwankwo Obiora
Obiaora signed for Inter On 28 November 2009. Prior to his Senior debut for Inter he was a member its youth team. He made his debut for Inter in a Champions League match against Tottenham coming on as substitute.
He left Inter for Parma in January 2011 after failing to make an impact.
Though, he won two trophies with Inter Milan; Supercoppa Italiana in 2010 and the FIFA Club world Cup in 2011 with fellow countryman Joel Obi.
8. Isah Abdulahi Eliakwu
Isah Eliakwu joined at just 16 years of age as a member of its youth team the same period with likes of Obafemi Martins, Makinwa, and Saidi. In 2003 when Obagoal was promoted to Inter's Senior team Eliakwu became the youth team top scorer with 38 goals in all competitions.
He made his Senior Team debut in 2003 in a goaless draw against Udinese. He left Inter Milan in 2004 after one appearance for the Senior Team.
Conclusively, to me Martins is the greatest of these Nigerian players to have played for Inter Milan with 136 appearance and 39 goals.
Nigeria is blessed.
Who is your greatest Nigerian to have played for Inter Milan?
Comments