Super Eagles Star Kalu Impresses As A Wing-back With Barcelona, English Clubs' Scouts Watching

Published: November 24, 2019

Super Eagles duo Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja started a French Ligue 1 game together for the first time as Bordeaux came from a goal down to beat Monaco 2-1 at Stade Matmut-Atlantique on Sunday afternoon.

Prior to today's meeting, both players had made eleven appearances in the league, with the former Sunderland striker coming off the bench in all the matches.

In the second half of last season following his transfer from the Black Cats, Maja started three matches - against
Toulouse, EA Guingamp and Nîmes Olympique - but Kalu was not available for selection owing to fitness issues.

As previously reported, scouts representing Barcelona, Villarreal, Newcastle United and Wolves among others attended the match between Bordeaux and Monaco.

If the statitistics are anything to go by, Kalu impressed the scouts in attendance, with a game-high five tackles made by the Bordeaux number 10 and he registered four shots, a joint game-high figure.

Playing as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation, the Super Eagles star was credited with the first shot of the game when he tried his luck from 20 meters.

Islam Slimani's 15th minute opener was cancelled out by Pablo Castro in the 29th minute, before Nicolas De Preville scored what proved to be winning goal from the spot on 69 minutes.

The two Nigeria internationals went the distance for manager Paulo Sousa's team.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel