Former Gunner Kelechi Nwakali is stuck in a difficult situation with League One club Barnsley, after failing to secure a summer transfer away from the club.
Kelechi Nwakali after signing for Barnsley (Photo via BarnsleyFC.co.uk)
Photo via BarnsleyFC.co.uk
Kelechi Nwakali returned to England last summer, having previously spent three years with Arsenal as a young player.
Nwakali never featured on the pitch for the Gunners, with a lack of a work permit and a few underwhelming loans ensuring that was the case. He ultimately left for Spanish side SD Huesca, and he went on to play for AD Alcorcon, Ponferradina, and Chaves before joining Barnsley.
The midfielder’s first season with Barnsley was mixed, as he made 26 appearances and just 15 starts in all competitions. But things really fell apart over the summer.
Kelechi Nwakali
Kelechi Nwakali
All Nigeria Soccer report that Nwakali reported late for pre-season, and he was instructed to train away from the first-team squad as a result. Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane then confirmed on multiple occasions that the plan was to sell Nwakali, right up until the end of the window.
“I think all parties know that hopefully that will be the outcome come Monday — that he moves on,” Hourinhane said in the final week of the transfer window.
But nothing panned out, and Nwakali stayed where he was. All Nigeria Soccer now report that the player has been drafted into the Barnsley u21s, starting in a match against Watford this week.
Kelechi Nwakali (Photo via Instagram / Nwakali25)
Photo via Instagram / Nwakali25
Officially, Nwakali remains a Barnsley player, and he was included in their first-team squad photo. But after the manager made it so clear that they wanted to sell him in the summer, it would be a surprise if he plays significant senior minutes over the coming months.
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