Villarreal's Chukwueze Sheds More Light On Failed Moves To Arsenal, Porto, Salzburg

Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze has opened up on his failed moves to Arsenal, Porto and Red Bull Salzburg.

The Diamond Academy product came to prominence at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup, winning the Bronze Boot as the third highest goalscorer of the tournament with three goals and three assists to his name.

After the tournament in Chile, Arsenal had been in pole position for the services of Chukwueze, offering him a five-year deal following a successful medical he underwent with the club in London, but the proposed move collapsed after the Gunners and Diamond Academy could not agree on the payment terms.

The Nigeria international also attracted concrete interest from Porto and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria but it was Villarreal that eventually won the race for his signature.

Speaking philosophically, Chukwueze opined that the disappointment of not joining the three clubs worked out in his favour in the long run.

He told the Super Eagles Media Team via YouTube : ''I have had setbacks, when I had so many options to sign with Porto, Arsenal and Salzburg but it didn't happen actually then I went back to my academy and started training allover again.

''It was difficult for me at that moment because my teammates had signed some contracts with their teams and I was back home training with my academy before Villarreal picked me up.

''It shows me that you need to keep your head down and keep working harder. If things are not working properly as you think, you need to keep you head down.

''I think I am in a perfect place because of the setback, assuming I went to the club that I was looking at, maybe I won't be where I am today, so it taught me some lessons. ''

Chukwueze is the current Nigerian Young Player of the Year and is among five youngsters in the running for the 2019 CAF Youth Player of the Year award.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel