The Korea Football Association are prepared to battle the Nigerian Federation and Royal Spanish Football Federation for the services of promising Real Madrid starlet Marvin Akinlabi.

South Korea's coach to the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup, Chung Jung-yong has revealed that he attempted to invite Akinlabi to the Spanish youth teams since U18 level, according to v.daum.net.

Jung-yong also looked into the possibility of including Akinlabi in his squad list to Poland last year but ultimately his plan was unsuccessful due to various circumstances, though the player was open to the idea of representing South Korea, where his mother originally hails from.

The 2000-born winger has only one cap to date for the national teams he's eligible to represent and that was in the colours of Spain U19s when he played the last 28 minutes of a 3-0 loss to Italy in an international friendly in January 2019.

Last month, Akinlabi became the first Nigeria-eligible player in history to feature for Real Madrid's first team after he was handed a 20-minute runout in the goalless draw at Real Sociedad.

Vice President of the Nigerian Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi and Super Eagles chief scout Tunde Adelakun have confirmed that they are keeping tabs on Akinlabi with a view to a future call-up to one of the Nigeria teams.

Born in Palma de Mallorca, Akinlabi qualifies to represent the national teams of Nigeria through his father.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel