Super Eagles combative midfielder Mikel Agu has revealed that the reason why he joined Portuguese top flight side Vitoria Setubal on transfer deadline was to claim his place in the national team after he was dropped on the eve of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“Most people have forgotten but I got my first call up to the Super Eagles when I last played in Setubal so if I keep my level high here, maybe I can get a recall to the team. All I need is to play and maintain a very high level of performance,” he began.
The 25year old had previously played on loan at the club which had late Nigerian striker Rashidi Yekini on its book and was glad to return there after a proposed move to French side Olympique Marseille fell through at the last moment.
He explained: “Porto mentioned four clubs who wanted me but the decision to go to Setubal was easy for me and I made it in one day. I had played here before and the club and fans were nice to me. The reception was good when I came and I quickly settled down even though only a few players from my time here were still around.”
Agu also opened up on why his widely reported move to Marseille did not materialise before the close of the summer transfer window.
“There was contact from Marseille. My manager was approached and FC Porto were also interested but I was not cool with the terms. Marseille wanted me on loan with an option to make the move permanent but I was tired of another loan move after spending the last three years on loan. It was close to transfer deadline day and so the deal fell through,” he revealed.
The former loanee at Turkish side Bursaspor also revealed his ties with parent club FC Porto and the reason for his estranged relationship with the manager Sergio Conceicao.
“I love Porto and what the club has done for me but I don’t want to go back there for as long as Conceicao is still in charge. He’s a deceptive person.
At the end of last season, when I finished my loan deal with Bursaspor in Turkey, I had many teams asking if i was available but the coach asked for me to come back so I had to tell the clubs that I’m going back to Porto.
The manager said he wanted me and Chidozie (Awaziem) back but I didn’t know he had an ulterior motive for saying so.
I came back to Porto for pre-season and barely halfway into pre-season coach dropped me that I was not in his plans.
The fact was that most of his players were at the World Cup and he knew they would have extended rest periods so he needed training materials until they came back.
A day before those players were expected to report back he called me and five other players and told us to look elsewhere.”
News4Naija 
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