<span style="" class="notranslate">Alicante and UD Salamanca passed up the opportunity to sign Nigeria international Ikechukwu Uche when he arrived Spain from domestic club Iwuanyanwu Nationale. <br /><br />Spanish daily <i>Faro De Vigo </i>says the Villarreal striker had negotiated with both teams but failed to strike terms before his switch to Racing Ferrol when he clocked 18.<br /><br />Now nearing 31, Ikechukwu Uche will be making a return to Galicia when the Yellow Submarine tackle Celta Vigo in the La Liga on Sunday.<br /><br />Recalling his first days in Spain with </span><span style="" class="notranslate"><span style="" class="notranslate">Racing Ferrol, he has admitted that he found it difficult to adapt to Spanish football due to communication barrier.<br /><br />He told the newspaper : </span></span><span style="" class="notranslate"><span style="" class="notranslate">&ldquo;Not knowing the language, I could not hear much of what was happening there. All I did was train, train and play ... back to the hotel.</span></span><span style="" class="notranslate">&rdquo;<br /><br />During his first four years in Spain, Ikechukwu Uche defended the colours of Racing Ferrol and Recreativo, as the top sides felt it was a gamble signing him.<br /><br />He is now a key player for Villarreal, having netted 30 goals in all competitions since his switch from Real Zaragoza hours before the close of the summer transfer window in 2011.<br /><br /></span>Photo Credit: <cite>villarrealcf.es</cite><br />