Izuchukwu OkosiFerdinando Guarino, agent of Udinese loanee Destiny Udogie, has confirmed that the talented youngster is hopeful of representing Italy and not Nigeria.
Udogie has declared his intention to play for the Italian Azurris rather than the Super Eagles of Nigeria insisting that he ‘feels more Italian than Nigerian’ as a professional footballer.
Italian national team manager Roberto Mancini did not invite the in-form Udogie for the recent victories over England and Hungary albeit Udogie was called up for the Italian under-21 side and was involved as the youth team lost 0-2 to England U-21 and drew 1-1 with Japan U-21.
Ferdinando Guarino, agent of Udinese loanee Destiny Udogie, has confirmed the decision of his client despite the disappointment of not being called up for the UEFA Nations League games.
“Udogie is a player monitored by the senior national team,” Guarino told Spazioj as per Fanta Calcio.
“This time we were hoping for a call-up but he was called up anyway with the ‘U-21, really showing a particular attachment to the national team.
“He had a physical problem – due to a clash on the pitch in the last championship against Inter – and despite not being at 100%, he gave his contribution, tightening his teeth and playing important matches against England and Japan.
“He has a great attachment to the Azzurri shirt; there will still be time for the senior national team. The goal is that. He is Italian, born in Italy, who feels the blue shirt and is proving it.”
Udogie moved to Tottenham in the summer from Udinese, but the Premier League side sent him back to Udine on a season-long loan deal.
The defender has two goals in six Serie A matches this term, as well as four yellow cards.
Nigeria have lost great footballing talents in recent years to other nations after switching allegiances to their adopted countries.
Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori chose to represent England, David Alaba and Noah Okafor play for Austria while Manuel Akanji whose father is Nigerian plays for Switzerland.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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