Nathan Tella, the winger from Bayer Leverkusen, has expressed his eagerness to represent Nigeria in international football. Although he was born in England to Nigerian parents and is eligible to play for the English national team, Tella has disclosed that his aspiration is to play for the Super Eagles.
In an interview with the German publication Bild, the 24-year-old player stated, “I’ve always said for the last three or four years that Nigeria is a big part of my life – even though I’ve been an ‘England boy’ from London all my life. If I had the opportunity to play for Nigeria, I would be more than happy and would readily accept it. I’ve already discussed this with my parents and friends.”
Tella made a notable move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen from Southampton during the summer, securing a transfer for a club record fee of €20 million. The versatile winger is gradually settling into his new environment.
He acknowledged the importance of putting in hard work to catch the attention of Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro, stating, “You’re not simply handed a call-up, you have to earn it. I want to prove myself here if given the chance to play. I aim to continue my development, contribute to the team and the club. If an international call-up comes my way, that would be an added bonus,” Tella added.