Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo has opened up about why he chose to focus on club football over representing the Nigeria men’s senior national team at international level, Footynaija.com reports.
Adarabioyo, who remains eligible to represent both England and Nigeria at international level as a result of being born in London to Nigerian parents, has been heavily courted by the Nigeria Football Federation in the last couple of years.
Despite the NFF’s best efforts, they have been unable to convince the former Fulham defender to pledge his allegiance to Nigeria. Earlier this year, reports emerged claiming the 27-year-old was not interested in playing for the Super Eagles as he had his heart set on earning an England call up.
However, Adarabioyo, who helped Chelsea to a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the UEFA Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, wasted no time in debunking his rumoured rejection of a Super Eagles call up.
What Adarabioyo said about Nigeria call up
“Both of those pieces of news are pretty false. I’ve never turned down Nigeria. And I’ve never had any conversations with them to say that I’ll be going to Nigeria,” Adarabioyo stated in quotes revealed by Vanguard.
Speaking further, Europa Conference League winner admitted that Nigeria have indeed approached him in the past, during his time at Fulham but he informed them of his decision to focus solely on club football.
“At the point of last season where there was a little bit of conversation, I told them I just want to focus on club football.
“I was in my last year at Fulham and I just wanted to have a solid running at Fulham. Now I’m at Chelsea. My first year which I wanted to concentrate on again.”
The 27-year-old defender however hinted at an imminent decision on his international future saying; “And I think now is going to be the time that I need to make a decision.”
If Adarabioyo does eventually pledge his allegiance to Nigeria, it will no doubt come as a massive boost for the Super Eagles, who could definitely use some reinforcements at the heart of defense.