Nathan Tella, a product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academy, has confirmed he gave an interview to German media in which he said he would like to play for the Super Eagles.
Tella was born in England to Nigerian parents and was therefore able to play for the 1966 World Cup winner and three-time African champion.
The exciting winger has always been inclined to play international football for the Super Eagles rather than his country of birth, but is yet to be invited into the Nigerian squads.
Tella will bring his versatility to the Super Eagles if called up by Jose Peseiro, as the Bayer Leverkusen star also enjoys playing as an attacking midfielder, second striker and center forward.
The 24-year-old knows some of the Super Eagles players currently in Portugal, including his Hale End graduate Alex Iwobi, Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo and Victor Boniface, his team-mate at Bayer Leverkusen.
When asked to confirm rumors that he had decided to play for Nigeria, Tella told Germany-based Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba of OmaSportsTV: “It’s true that it comes from me.
A few years ago I talked about it with my family and said it is.” the path I wanted to take and play for Nigeria.
“I’m fine, I hope I can join the team and if the call comes I will gladly accept it as something I want to do.”
On the rationale behind her decision to commit her international future to the Super Eagles, Tella said: “I feel like she’s obviously always been a big part of my life.
“As I said in the interview, I’m a London boy. I’ve been to London, I’ve been to England, but at the same time my parents are Nigerian, my grandparents are both Nigerian, so for me I think this is the right path to DESCEND.
“I want to do something that my family is also proud of. I know they are happy that I play football, but since I am also in Nigeria, I think it is something very important for me.”
After a stellar 2022-2023 season at Burnley, scoring 19 goals in all competitions, Tella was signed by Bayer Leverkusen in the summer transfer window.
