Onazi reveals why ‘nearly done’ move to Chelsea fell through

Former Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has explained how his planned move to Chelsea fell through due to age issues.

Onazi, 31, who currently plays for Italian fourth-division side Avezzano, stated that the move to Chelsea did not materialize because he was not up to 18 then.

“When I was young, I almost signed for Chelsea, but I was underage and couldn’t play,” Onazi told Spor Arena.

“I had to wait until I was 18. There was a lot of process. That’s why my manager decided that we would go to Italy at that time. So I could start in Lazio’s second team and then, when I developed, I could start in the first team.”

Onazi spent four seasons at Lazio (2012 to 2016) and went to Turkish club Trabzonspor for €3.5 million where he would spend the next three seasons (2016 to 2019).

The Nigerian midfielder, whose contract was terminated by Trabzonspor via mutual agreement in January 2020, signed for another Turkish side Denizlispor.

Onazi revealed that current Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi, who was his coach at Lazio, begged him not to leave the Rome-based club for Trabzonspor.

“The coach I worked with during my time at Lazio, Simone Inzaghi, was a source of motivation every day, every second as a coach. He had a lot of positive energy. Inzaghi begged me not to go to Trabzonspor.

“He gave me more contracts and more money. I told Inzaghi honestly that I had been here for six years and wanted to get another experience.

“He was not happy about this and said to me, ‘If you decide to leave, I can’t stop you.’ But I am still in contact with Simone Inzaghi.”

Onazi was a member of the Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.

He represented Nigeria at two FIFA senior men’s World Cups in Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018.