Southampton striker Paul Onuachu has opened up about his uncertain future at the club.
After an impressive 2023/24 season on loan at Trabzonspor, the Nigerian international was a subject of transfer interest from different clubs in the summer transfer window with Turkish giants- Besiktas and Galatasaray both interested in a move for the striker.
In a recent interview, Onuachu was quoted saying, “It’s been (an) up and down season. First of all, we were talking about transferring and leaving the team.
It didn’t happen. I kept working hard and believing in myself. Russell Martin saw I had potential and started including me.”
“I just wanted to leave (and go) where I could play more. But he actually spoke to me saying he wanted me to stay”, he continued.
The former Genk forward joined the Saints in January 2023, but has struggled for consistency and playing time since his move. He has barely had a strong foot in the team and has been loaned out to get more minutes.
“He started to believe in me. He gave me some chances and I think I executed them very well. Now we are here.
I felt like, probably, that some minutes is not really being involved. I wanted to leave at that time. This has happened a lot of times already in my career.”
This season, he has eight appearances in the English Premier League, starting just twice and has hinted he will give his ‘all’ when called upon by new manager Ivan Juric.
“I don’t care if I’m training with the B team, C team or by myself. I give everything when I am training, whether that is with one coach, two coaches or three coaches”, Onuachu added.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
