INHEANACHO: “THE MOST IMPORTANT AIMS ARE NOT INVIDIUAL BUT TEAM'S AIMS”

Our fifth signing of the summer, Kelechi Iheanacho, spoke in his first official interview. Having spent last season at Leicester City, he arrives as a free agent and he expressed his delight at joining the club: “I'm really happy coming to Sevilla. It's been stressful the last 24 hours. But I needed to get things done quickly. I'm very excited and happy coming to this club.”

Our new striker also spoke about linking up with fellow Nigerian, Ejuke: ”Obviously, it's the first time having Nigerians in the team, so hopefully it will bring good luck to the team and we'll give our best for the football club and for the fans to help the team to achieve great success this season. I think we're happy to be here, and I know Nigerians are happy as well. So hopefully we enjoy it and it will be a good one.”

“The important thing is the team and my teammates” 

On the process of his transfer, Iheanacho highlighted the role played by Víctor Orta in the operation: “Victor is a great guy. He really played a big role. He's been watching me for a long time now and he knows the I striker am. He's been doing a great job for the football club as well That's why it's not really hard to do all this. So, yeah. So, Victor is a nice human being.” He revealed that Sevilla was always his first choice, despite offers from other clubs: “Yes, there were a lot of offers from a lot of clubs but there was a clear identity of what they want me to do here and why they brought me here and football-wise, environment and everything. I had it clear that I wanted to come here. I'm going to embrace it and give it my all."

“I think last season was mixed emotions. Obviously, I played that first part of the season and obviously, I didn't really get a chance at the second part of the season. Most importantly, as a team, we won the trophy. We were a good group together and we did it for all of us and the football club in Leicester. I think that was the most important thing. It's a nice football club and a good family. It was great to end it all with a smile and with a trophy,” he continued on his final season at Leicester. On his adaption Iheanacho was confident that he would be at 100% in no time at all: "I have had the chance to be doing personal training with a coach. That helps my fitness as well. I'm not far off from where they are 100%, so I'm not far off. Hopefully, I'll join them soon them and then build the rest of my fitness with them. Hopefully, I'll be ready to play the first game.” 

“The important thing is the team and my teammates” 

The Nigerian striker, is not looking for individual targets but instead wants to focus on the team: “The aims are not really personal because obviously, I can have a target for myself but the most important thing is the team. Together we can achieve great things this season. We just have to give 100% every game. And whatever comes out of the game, we go again, no complacency, and just keep going every single game. Hopefully, we'll be up there in the table and go really far this season.”

10 years on he will once again play alongside Jesús Navas, the player who gave him his first-ever assist for Manchester City: “That was a long, long time ago. Jesus Navas is a legend in this city and this football club. He's a great human being. He's a lovely guy, and he's a good footballer as well. He gave me my first assist, and I am grateful to him for that.  Here we go again, I am coming to meet him in his home. I'll be happy to see him soon and to play with him.

“I hope to help the team greater heights” 

Iheanacho was very complimentary towards the recently departed Youssef En-Nesyri: “I've probably watched him in some games that he plays. I know he's a great striker. I've seen him. He's explosive and he's really done well for this football club and he's gone to another challenge. But obviously, I'm probably a different striker from him. I'm in the Strikers Association, so I wish him all the best of luck in his new club. And hopefully, I will help this team to achieve greater heights. He also spoke about the similarities of his goal celebration: “I've seen him do that. There was a young kid in Leicester when we were doing a pre-match meal before the game. He was in the stand and we were coming back from a pre-match meal and he was shouting my name, Kelechi when you score a goal, can you do this dance? I looked at him and said, Wow. I said, Okay, if I score I'm going to do it. Then I scored a goal. I nearly forgot, but I remember that I did it for the boy and he was so happy then I thought it was good luck. Then I started doing it.” 

In his time in England, he played and learned from some great strikers including Agüero, Džeko, Jovetic and Negredo, as well as being coached by Pep Guardiola: I took a lot from playing alongside those players and playing for a great coach in the world like Pep. They are all legends and all that. Hopefully all that I learned over there I will bring this football club and help this football club to achieve greater heights.” He also spoke about former Sevilla player Enzo Maresca, who was his coach last season at Leicester City: “Enzo is a great manager, he's a coach, and he's my friend as well. We like to make funny jokes together. He's a really great coach, a great manager. I learned a lot from him as well, and he likes my style, the way I play football. I think it's similar ideas that we shared, and that's why it was easy to understand the tactics and to play under him.” 

“I can play as a lone striker or as a two” 

“I can play as a lone striker or as a two.  Anywhere you put me, I can play. I just want to play with my heart and leave everything out there on the pitch. I can't wait to get started.” He is also excited to make his first appearance at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán: “I can't wait for it. It's going to be a big game. I'll give my best that day and obviously understand my teammates and #work hard in the game. I can't wait to get started, meet my team members and we can achieve great success together.” 

To close he talked about how his nickname came about: “One day, me, Wilfred Ndidi and Daniel Amartey were walking and they started calling me Senior Man. We started making jokes about it and videos about it. Then from there, everybody started calling me Senior Man.”