UD Leganes of Spain defender, Kenneth Omeruo has come out with details of the factors that led to his decision of sticking with the club after their relegation from the top-flight Spanish LaLiga, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although many observers felt playing in the second division would hamper Omeruo’s market value and cut his relevance with the Nigerian national team, the former Chelsea of England defender said it was a risk he decided to take in order to avoid moving round like a rolling stone that gathers no moss.
He recalled that he never got the respect and opportunities he felt he deserved during his time with Chelsea, as he was not given any look in with the senior team since signing his first contract at Stamford Bridge from Standard Liege of Belgium in 2012.
The dark-skinned stopper, who Chelsea loaned in rapid sequences to ADO Den Haag of Holland, Middlesbrough of England, Kasimpasa and Alanyaspor of Turkey as well as initially at Leganes, added that he opted to stick with the Spanish club in a full contract because of the opportunity they gave him to stabilize his career.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations gold medalist and bronze winner at the 2019 edition in Egypt noted that lining out in the second division in Spain is better than not playing a single game for Chelsea, who sent him on loan to five different clubs during his seven-year extended contract.
Having first teamed up with Leganes on loan in the summer of 2018, before he was handed a full contract the following season, Omeruo recounted how that offer gave a revival to his career, stabilized him, helped him to improve on his performances and boosted his chances of being part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.
Although his efforts could not save The Cucumber Growers from relegation, the Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup silver medalist chose to stay with the team, following which he has now disclosed that his decision was his personal way of showing gratitude to the club’s management.
That decision meant he snubbed offers from some top league clubs last summer and he had to take a pay cut, but Omeruo stressed that he was enjoying his club status for the first time in his career and Spain felt like home, after the frequent switches he had while signed to Chelsea.
Although a bout with injury seemingly put a cloud over his relevance with Leganes at the start of this season, Omeruo insists he has no regrets over his decision to stick with the club and went on to assure the club’s fans that the team is on track for a return to the top-tier next season.
Omeruo told AOIFootball.com: “It wasn’t an easy decision to stay and play in the second division. I asked if they were going to cut my salary to 50% and they said yes but I told them we might have a problem.
“Again I thought about it and decided to stay. When I was with Chelsea they always loaned me out to several clubs and I did not really have a home that time.
“I have lived two years in Spain and this was a club that gave me an opportunity. So, for me, it was only fair that I risk one season in the second division to try and come back at the first ask.
“Definitely, we have an amazing team; we play good football but we are unlucky most times. Also, the second division is really tough; but we are focused and won’t give room for any slip-ups.”
