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Okoli praises former U21 teammate Udogie before cap-tying game

Posted : 06 September 2024

Speculation about Leicester City defender Caleb Okoli’s international future may be resolved this Friday evening if he takes the field for Italy in their UEFA Nations League match against France at the Parc des Princes in Paris.


Although Okoli was born in Vicenza, Italy, and is eligible to play for the Super Eagles due to his Nigerian heritage, he has chosen to represent Italy, the four-time World Cup champions.

 


In 2022, Okoli participated in two training camps with the Italian senior national team and earned his first call-up for international duty in September.


During his time with Italy's U21 squad, Okoli played alongside players such as Tottenham Hotspur’s Destiny Udogie, Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli, Torino’s Samuele Ricci, and Atalanta’s Raoul Bellanova, all of whom have since advanced to the senior team.


The Leicester summer signing is eager to secure a regular position in the Azzurri squad under Luciano Spalletti and has noted that there is a clear pathway to the senior team.


At a press conference on Wednesday, Okoli praised his former U21 teammates, including Udogie, highlighting their success in Europe’s top leagues. “In the U21 setup, I had teammates like Fagioli, Ricci, Bellanova, and Udogie. They were my teammates and are now excelling in the top leagues,” Okoli remarked.


Former Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro had shown interest in Okoli and enlisted Ballon d'Or nominee Ademola Lookman to try to persuade him to switch allegiance from Italy to Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

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