RB Salzburg of Austria youngster, Karim Adeyemi has confessed that he will prefer playing for Germany at senior national team level, rather than make himself available for the Super Eagles’ of Nigeria.
Megasportsarena.com reports that, with his stock rising in leaps and bounds, despite being on loan to a club in the Austrian lower division, Adeyemi has attracted transfer interest from some of Europe’s top clubs and, after carting home another award early this week, he stated categorically that his vision is to play in the nearest future for the Germany squad, Die Mannschaft.
Born in Munich to a Nigerian father and Romanian father, the Red Bull Salzburg starlet qualifies to represent three countries, with equal opportunities of plying his trade with Super Eagles, The Tricolours and Die Mannschaft, but he has apparently opted for the latter.
Germany were already ahead of Nigeria and Romania in the race for Adeyemi’s services, after he became provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth in a European U17 Championship qualifier against Belarus on March 20, 2019.
Adeyemi, who is currently on loan from Salzburg to FC Liefering in the Austrian second tier, has attracted interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, with both English Premier League clubs said to be tracking the 17-year-old attacker with great zeal, but they are yet to make an offer.
Transfermarkt also reports that Barcelona of Spain have had a bid rejected by Salzburg, but the Catalonia club still rate him so highly and are planning to integrate him into the first-team squad immediately, despite having their first offer of €15m snubbed.
Los Blaugranas have reportedly taking a more decisive approach to their quest by approaching Salzburg’s sports director, Christoph Freund for a formal bid, and will make another approach soon to try and seal a deal for the January transfer window.
In August, Adeyemi, who has already contributed seven goals and five assists in 13 games so far this season, was awarded the Fritz Walter Medal for the best young talents by German Football Association (DFB), following in the tow of Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz, who got it in 2018.
Adeyemi said he was motivated to go forth and achieve what those have done before him, as he wants to follow in the steps of other winners of the prize, Timo Werner, Leon Goretzka, Emre Can and Mario Götze, by going on to play for Germany at full senior level.
Adeyemi, who has 13 appearances and five goals for Germany’s youth teams, said: “I want to achieve what these players have already achieved. That is why this award makes me very proud and is also a great motivation to continue on my path. Many successful footballers who play in the national team today have also received this award.
“One day I want to play for the national team. Playing for the national team is always a great honor. It is always special for my family to see me play in the national team jersey. It motivates me enormously when I am invited to the national team and can play for Germany.”
