Sunshine Stars have stated they will not allow captain Godfrey Oboabona to trial for Arsenal, and they will only talk if the North London side are ready to offer him a contract.
The 22-year-old made headlines this week when reports surfaced that Arsenal had offered the solid Nigerian defender a trial ahead of a potential summer move, and he made his admiration for the Gunners known.
However the Nigeria Professional Football League leaders have reacted to the rumours of a trial through their coordinator Mike Idoko.
He also revealed that there have been no official contact from the Gunners, he told supersport.com:
How can we send a first-team player of our country’s senior national team for trial?
The world has seen Oboabona play at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa where he featured in all of Nigeria’s game till they won the trophy, so we won’t send him on trials. I want to believe Arsenal has sent for him to have a medical rather than a trial.
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There are several offers from other English clubs, which have been impressed with his performances for Nigeria and that’s why we believe he will sign straightaway than be given a trial. For now, there’s been no contact from Arsenal to us.
An Arsenal spokesperson was also questioned over the Nigerian defender and refused to comment on the rumours as expected.
The spokesman said:
As a club we do not comment of speculation, given the number of player moves both in and out of the club that we’re linked to. With that in mind we announce anything only when it is official, through www.Arsenal.com.
The African Nations Cup defender turned out brilliantly in the recent tournament which his nation won, and is reportedly valued at a mere £1 million. The response to the trial rumours from his club is expected with the 22-year-old already showcasing his ability on the international stage, and it will force Arsenal to take the plunge this summer if Wenger is indeed convinced of his talents.
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