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Sevilla's football director admits signing Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho was a "serious mistake." The struggling Nigerian striker, scoreless in La Liga, is loaned to Middlesbrough.
Sevilla’s sporting director, Victor Orta, has openly confessed that the club’s decision to sign Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho has proven to be a significant error, as the Super Eagles star struggles to make an impact in Spain.
Iheanacho, who arrived at Sevilla last summer on a free transfer from Leicester City, has failed to score in nine La Liga appearances and managed only three goals in cup matches against lower-league opposition.
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The underwhelming start has led Sevilla to offload the striker to Middlesbrough on a short loan during the January transfer window.
Reflecting on the club’s recruitment decisions, according to futbolfantasy, Orta admitted, “A mistake I made, very serious.”
“I also want to clarify that the first two strikers were brought in as a complement, to be practically the third striker, because there was a starter like Youssef and a striker who later appeared, like Isaac. But it's clear that this season's gamble on Kelechi has been a mistake, and we'll look at why we've made it – and we're doing it now.”
Orta’s comments come as Sevilla also grapples with the fitness woes of another Nigerian signing, Akor Adams, who has suffered unexpected muscle injuries since joining the club.
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Orta noted, “In Akor, a difficult misfortune. Until this season, he had not suffered any muscle injury, only some discomfort in his back.
Well, he has suffered muscle injuries often, and we are also working and finding out why they have occurred, so that they can be avoided, because he is a player in whom we have a lot of confidence.”
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The director emphasised that while the intention was for Iheanacho and Adams to provide depth behind established forwards like Youssef En-Nesyri, who has since departed for Fenerbahce, and Isaac, the plan has not worked as hoped.
With Sevilla now actively seeking new attacking options and open to departures, Iheanacho’s future at the club appears increasingly uncertain.
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Despite his previous success at Leicester City, Iheanacho struggled to adapt to Sevilla’s style and the demands of La Liga, raising questions about his fit for the team and prompting the club to not only ship him out on loan but reassess its transfer strategy moving forward.
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