Red Bull Salzburg of Austria youngster, Karim Adeyemi has explained why he opted not to accept any big money offer last summer and in the January transfer window, as he believe he has not achieved as much as he should at his current base, megasportsarena.com reports.
The Nigerian-born lad, who was born in Munich, Germany, added that he wants to achieve a lot more with Salzburg, which he joined in the summer of 2018, hence his decision to snub Chelsea of England and a host of other suitors that came hunting for his signature.
Adeyemi, who was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother, is stil eligible to feature for Germany, Nigeria and Romania, though he has already played for Germany’s under-16 and under-17 national teams.
The youngster, who has made 19 league appearances for Salzburg this season and scored two goals, made it clear that he wants to be his own man and that he cannot compare himself to Norway international, Ering Haaland.
Interestingly, Adeyemi and Haaland were teammates at Salzburg, before the Norway whiz-kid joined Dortmund in January 2020 after turning down a move to 20-time premier league winners Manchester United, but the Nigerian-born lad wants to cut his own identity.
A report by allnigeriasoccer.com added: “The Germany youth international has since gone on to make his debuts in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Austrian Bundesliga and OFB Cup since joining Red Bull Salzburg, racking up 25 appearances in total at the age of eighteen.
“Chelsea invited Adeyemi and his family to their Cobham Training Center while Liverpool and Atletico Madrid had been keeping tabs on the player with a view to a transfer; only for him to turn down the move to Stamford Bridge because of fear of missing first team opportunities.
“Adeyemi is on the radar of the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern Munich following his first team breakthrough and he has admitted that his Nigerian father and Romanian mother are assisting him remain focused and not get carried away.”
The vibrant lad, who got 15 goals and 12 assists for Salzburg’s youth club, FC Liefering, before he was promoted to the first team last season, told Sport 1: “It’s not that difficult to stay on the ground. I haven’t achieved anything yet, even though I’m now playing in the first division in Austria.
“First of all, it is important to me that I play regularly. My focus is currently on the Austrian league. I am very happy that I have so much time here. I am fully focused on the task in Salzburg,
“My parents and family support me a lot in this. My old Unterhaching club taught me that too. But even at Salzburg we players are kept on the ground. There is also no reason why I should rise above other people. All people are equal.
“Is Erling Haaland a role model? That is difficult to say. But of course, you as a player have in mind which ones are best at your position. Haaland is doing a great job at Borussia Dortmund, he has developed very well and has grown in many areas.
“I can cut a slice of that for myself. But I can’t compare myself to Haaland and go my own way. But you can always learn so from such a good player.”
