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Former Super Eagles’ defender, Michael Emenalo is still ranking high in the scales of former Arsenal striker, Ian Wright, in spite of the shock the Nigerian icon caused this weekend in turning down an offer to join Newcastle United of England.
The English Premier League club wanted Emenalo to become their latest technical director, but the Nigerian ex-international snubbed that offer, which came just a year after he got a similar tip from Wright for him to join Manchester United.
Newcastle have not had a director of football since the days of former Wimbledon coach, Joe Kinnear, who left the position in 2014, but Emenalo has baulked at the opportunity of becoming the next man for that job.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, in contrast with widespread speculation that Emenalo would jump at the opportunity of returning to a similar post he previously held at Chelsea of England and AS Monaco of France, the former left-back opted out.
This is despite earlier reports indicating that Emenalo traveled to Saudi Arabia for talks with Newcastle’s top shots but, after detailed negotiations with director Amanda Staveley, he declined the offer.
Newcastle are battling against relegation 15 matches into the season and less than four weeks before the opening of the January transfer window, but Emenalo opted not to join The Magpies, despite the fact that he has been out of work since leaving Monaco in 2019.
This means the Nigerian fringe player in the Eagles’ maiden World Cup outing at USA ’94, whose biggest club spot was at Notts County of England, is still up for grabs.
He could still make himself available for the highest bidder, after baulking on The Magpies’ offer due to a dispute over the wages they offered him.
The product of Rangers International of Enugu will now turn his attention elsewhere, following reports in Sunday’s newspapers across England that Newcastle could not guarantee him satisfaction.
Incidentally, this comes barely a year after Wright suggested that Emenalo was even good enough to take over the technical director’s saddle at Manchester United.
The Gunners’ legend may be ready to once again doff his hat for the 56-year-old Emenalo, who was at Chelsea during the club’s most successful spell in their history.
Emenalo was first The Blues’ assistant coach then technical director between 2007 and 2017, during which time he was also credited with signing Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois.
At a point last year, Wright stressed that he believes Emenalo was the perfect man to take charge of Man United’s transfers.
Wright stated back then: “For me, and it’s blatantly obvious to me, you’ve got someone like Michael Emenalo who was at Chelsea.”
However, a report by The Sunday Telegraph noted: “Michael Emenalo has turned down an offer to become Newcastle United’s director of football after the club could not match his ambitious plans.”
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