In 1998,
Austin Okocha showed up as the most expensive African footballer and among the
highest paid in the world when he signed a $20 million deal with Paris Saint
Germain (PSG).
But it was
Sunday Oliseh who had more play time with Juventus, where he played full time
in every single game the old ladies played in 1999/ 2000 season.
Emmanuel
Amunike had to rub shoulders with some of the worlds very best. He contend play
time with the Russian star, Hristo Stoichkov at Barcelona.
But Arsene
Wenger was quick to understand why Louis Van Gaal played Nwankwo Kanu as a
super-sub in Ajax. While at Arsenal, Kanu came from the bench to score a hat
trick against Chelsea – 3 goals that had remained a wonder in football history.
You can’t
but imagine how a Nigerian became the ‘Prince of Monaco.’ Victor Ikpeba playing
along side Thierry Henry at AS Monaco lit the French league with some great
football artistry and goal scoring prowess that made him walk on red carpets in
Paris.
Terry
Butcher couldn’t have been the most rugged footballer in the world if you
compare him with Taribo West. The Nigerian defender had severally shed his own
blood while playing for Inter Milan.
It’s on
record, Nwankwo Kanu, Finidi George, John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses, Dickson
Etuhu had all won UEFA Champions League and the Europa Cup respectively.
You may
agree with me that Paris Saint Germain, Juventus, Barcelona, Arsenal, Everton,
Inter Milan, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 04, AS Monaco, Lazio, Ajax
are some of the world’s biggest clubs. Below is the list of Nigerians who
played for these great clubs:
Barcelona:
Emmanuel
Amunike $3.8 Million 1996 – 2000
Gbenga
Okonowo $1.3 Milion 1998 – 2001
Chelsea:
Celestine
Babayaro £2.5 Million 1997 – 2005
John Mikel Obi £4.5
Million 2006 –
Victor Moses Undisclosed 2012 –
Keneth Omeruo £1.2
Million 2012 –
Arsenal:
Nwankwo Kanu £4.2
Million 1999 – 2004
Everton:
Daniel Amokachi £4.7 Million 1994 - 1996
Joseph Yobo £1
Million 2003 - 2012
Yakubu Aiyegbeni £2.3
Million 2007 - 2011
Victor Anichebe £2.6
Million 2006 - 2012
Juventus:
Sunday Oliseh $3.8
Million 1999 – 2000
Inter Milan :
Taribo West $1.7
Million 1997 - 1999
Nwankwo Kanu $4.7
Million 1996 – 1999
Obafemi Martins €750.
000 2001 – 2005
Obiora Nwankwo Undisclosed 2010 – 2011
Joel Obi €905,
000 2005 –
AC Milan:
Taribo West $2.1 Million 1999 - 2000
Taiye Taiwo €3.6
Million 2011 – 2013
Lazio:
Ogenyi Onazi €2.2
Million 2012 –
Paris Saint Germaine:
Austin Okocha $24
Million 1998 – 2002
AS Monaco:
Victor Ikpeba Undisclosed 1993 – 1999
Elderson Echejile Undisclosed 2014 –
Borussia Dortmund:
Victor Ikpeba $4.2
Million 1999 – 2002
Sunday Oliseh $4.9
Million 2000 – 2004
Schalke 04:
Victor Agali $4.2
Milion 1999 – 2002
Chinedu Obasi $3.4
Million 2012 –
Ajax:
Finidi George €705,
000 1993 – 1996
Nwankwo Kanu €207,
047 1993 – 1996
Ogbonaya Kanu €502,
000 1996 – 2001
Sunday Oliseh €1.2
Million 1997 - 1999
