Valerenga's Nigerian Iniesta : Not Easy Playing Against Man Utd's Pogba, Lukaku, They Were Too Good

Vålerenga's Nigerian winger Chidera Ejike, who has been dubbed the Nigerian Iniesta back in his homeland, was delighted to be named in the starting line-up in Sunday's friendly against European powerhouse Manchester United.

The 19-year-old fulfilled his ambition to play against Manchester United stars Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford, Daley Blind and Juan Mata, barely four months after signing his first professional contract with the Norwegian club.

Ejike admitted that the Manchester United players were too good and he picked up some lessons that will be useful to him after facing the Premier League stars.

''It was a good experience because I got to learn so many things from them, they are professionals and they've been playing worldwide for so long,'' Ejike told allnigeriasoccer.com.

''I was not in any competition with them, I was just playing to get some experience and how football is in Europe.

''It was not easy playing against Pogba and Lukaku, they were too good. ''

Vålerenga started the game brightly, holding their more illustrious opponents to a stalemate until a minute before half-time when Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring with a header.

''The first half was okay, we conceded late in the first half, but in the second half we lost concentration because some changes were made as well.

''I didn't get to exchange jerseys with any of the Manchester United players because most of the guys had already booked the jerseys,'' Ejike concluded.

Chidera Ejike was on the radar of Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester City before his switch to Vålerenga.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel