Kelechi Iheanacho: I almost signed for Porto but my father told me to join Manchester City

Kelechi Iheanacho produced an impressive display in the 5-1 rout against Crystal Palace

IF Kelechi Iheanacho had got his way he would be playing for Porto now, not Manchester City.

 

But after his impressive display on his first senior start against Crystal Palace in the Capital One Cup, City are thanking their lucky stars his father James changed his mind.

Many of Europe's top clubs were after striker Iheanacho when he was the star turn of Nigeria's World Under-17 Championship triumph two years ago, winning the competition's Golden Ball after scoring six goals and assisting seven others.

But Iheanacho's preference was to Porto because of the Portuguese club's tradition of recruiting players from Africa and South America and giving them first-team opportunities.

 

Iheanacho scoring Man City's third goal at the Etihad in the Capital One Cup

"I first heard of City's interest when I was with Nigeria for the World Under-17 qualifiers," he said. "When we finished the qualification process I had a few scouts approaching me and telling me I had quite a few clubs interested in signing me. But I didn't want to sign for anyone at that time, I just wanted to enjoy my football.

"Then when I was at the finals, I'd played a few games and that's when I agreed a deal with City. In all honesty I didn't know that much about the club at the time.

"I was close to signing for FC Porto, where I really wanted to go. But my agent said City was a much better prospect and my father told me I should join City because I would have a much better future here. So that's what I did.

 

"Nobody knows what will happen but because City are such a big team with so many fantastic players I didn't believe I'd have a future here. But my father did and he gave me to confidence I needed. Now I'm happy I took his advice."

Although Iheanacho agreed to join City in the summer of 2014, he had to wait until he was 18 before he could sign and then work-permit delays meant he couldn't play in England until February this year.

But he has quickly made up for lost time. He scored in the FA Youth Cup final against Chelsea in May and the following week netted the winner - against Porto, of all teams - as City lifted the Under-21s Premier League International Cup.

Promoted to the first-team squad in the summer, he scored the winner as a late sub at Selhurst Park last month and continued to impress in cameo appearances to convince Manuel Pellegrini he was ready for a first team start this week. And he fully justified his inclusion with a goal and two assists in City's 5-1 win.

His mother Mercy died after a short illness when he was 16 and with his father back in Nigeria, Iheanacho says Ivory Coast pair Wilfried Bony and Yaya Toure have taken him under their wing.