English side Chelsea and Spanish giants Real Madrid are among those battling it out for the signature of Nigeria youth international striker Macauley Chrisantus.
The 17-year-old finished as top-scorer at the Under-17 World Cup which ended in South Korea last week.

But the two clubs face stiff competition from a number of other top European sides who are also interested in the lanky striker.

His agent Adam Muhammad confirmed that Liverpool, Ajax, Arsenal and Marseille are among the many clubs interested in Chrisantus.

Muhammad told BBC Sport: "We have received at least 12 very serious offers from some of the top clubs in Europe like Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool for Chrisantus."

"There are other clubs like Ajax and Hamburg who have even presented a comprehensive plan on how to turn my player into a world-class striker.

"There are huge financial deals offered from eastern European countries too as well but we want to take our time and look for a club where he can develop and play regular competitive football."
There are concerns that if the striker signs for an English club the granting of a work permit could pose problems, as Chrisantus is yet to play for the Super Eagles.

Immigration laws in Britain require players from outside the European Union to have played in at least 75% of their country's senior international games over the two-year period preceding a work permit application.

But Muhammad says the English clubs are still in the picture as the striker is deemed an exceptional talent and could be adjudged as a special case.

"The English clubs cannot be ruled out because there is a provision in the British work permit regulations that allows a special talent to be considered.

"Some of the English clubs we have spoken to have assured us that they will apply for a work permit for him under this clause to enable him play in England.

"By next week we should be getting a clear picture of which club will sign Chrisantus."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7000947.stm

first of all i dont buy dis whole 1000000 clubs 'battling' 4 d guy.Chrisantus is by far d most overated young player in d world(hypoteticaly asumin he is 17).
merida/bojan/giovani/pique etc hav much more potential.

@ ritchboi,

I agree with u 100%
Bojan is the most promising player in the just concluded under 17 championships.
He has already featured for Barcelona this season where he got the whole Nou Camp applauding his rare skills.
Bojan looks the real deal and i expect him to blaze the world in 5 years time.

Jackal & Ritchboi

I guess because the guy didnt give you the 100 dollar wey u ask am - u come dey bad mouth am? how can you say he is overrated? You kinow more than FIFA?

Bad belle - Nigerians.

@ mo_fe_dobo

No mind them

What we are saying is Chrisantus will self-destruct due to his fake age.
He is supposed to be 17 now . . . .European clubs would expect him to peak at 22-25 whereas he would be 31-35 by then.
How would u scratch that fact off?

Bojan on the other hand is settled with FC Barcelona.
He is playing with his real age and he can only get better.
Bojan has featured for Barcelona already this season and he played in UEFA Champions league last week.

If u are still confused . . . .
Compare the potentials of Leo Messi to Mikel Obi . . . .
Can u now spot the difference?

Messi is just better than Mikel dats all, age doesnt count if it does, Kanu would av been dead by now but guess what he's still waxing stronger despite being close to 50

ayusman16:

Messi is just better than Mikel that is all, age doesnt count if it does, Kanu would av been dead by now but guess what he's still waxing stronger despite being close to 50

Apart from Kanu, how many Nigerian players in the under 17 went on to have a SUCCESFUL CAREER.
There will always be an exception to any rule but one player out of 3 good teams that won it in Nigeria?
Where's Osundo, Dimeji Lawal, Oruma and others?

and who told you Bojan is using his real age? Who? because he is white so u think they cant cheat or fake their age?

You are one of those who sees nothing good in the black man but sees everything good in the white man - shio.

Agreed, our boys are men! But how many countries didnt cheat in dis regard? Is it the COlombians or the Argentines? How many players tend to graduate to the national teams? even the europeans!

dont deceive urselves,look at d faces of merida,bojan,kroos etc and compare dem 2 ajiboye,edile,alfa and d rest. . .
D diference is CLEAR!
in 10 years merida wil b at d peak of his career wit arsenal(or whoever comes caling),where wud our MEN b?

dont deceive urselves,look at d faces of merida,bojan,kroos etc and compare dem 2 ajiboye,edile,alfa and d rest. . .
D diference is CLEAR!
in 10 years merida wil b at d peak of his career wit arsenal(or whoever comes caling),where wud our MEN b?

How does Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal, and Liverpool equal to seven english clubs?

@ ritchboi,

I cannot believe some people are this naive to think European players lie about their age.
Go to youtube and see Bojan at the age of 9 playing in the academy.
Did he know he was going to play for Spain at the under 17?
Everything in Europe is well documented so players cannot lie. . . . . . .



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1khSCSdaIzY

This was Bojan at age 9 playing for Barcelona's academy.
Go and bring us CHRISANTUS at age 9.

what has the video proved? nothing.

The VIDEO proves BOJAN didnt just evolve from the bush.
He has been closely monitored since he was a child.
There was no way he could have lied about his age at that time he was playing.
CHRISANTUS came from nowhere . . . . .No one knew him before now and all of a sudden he is 16 years old.
Take a chill pill . . . . .People don't lie about age in Europe.
Everything has to check out . . . .Hospitals, Nannies, Dentists, Police and even Voter's register.
Do the math!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is coming to Manchester United

Jackal:

Go and bring us CHRISANTUS at age 9.

There were no cameras when chrisantus was 9!

davidylan:

There were no cameras when chrisantus was 9!

Yea Right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There were no cameras in Nigeria in 1999?
Bloody Hell . . . . .Nigeria hosted FIFA WORLD CUP in the same year . . . .How were the matches broadcasted?

You actually believe Chrisantus is 16?
I'd wager he is closer to 26

Have u guys heard Macauley talk ? U would agree he prolly has never been any close to a woman ! by the way Oga Jack, werent European countries banned alongside Naija and BRAZIL 4 age cheating in d early 90's ?

@ MC Omo,

Please name those countries.
As far as i know, Only Brazil and Mexico were banned along with Nigeria and maybe Kenya.
Is Brazil in Europe?

I heard something new - "people dont lie in Europe"

Na wao - at Jackal.

People dont lie about age in Europe.
Records have to check out cos as soon as u become a HIT . . . .Tabloids will be snooping and digging facts about u.
If Chrisantus was English . . . At least 30 people that know him would have sold his story to the tabloids to make money.
His classmates in school would have exposed the lid about his fake age.
Your records have to add up/check out.

@Jackal - i can now conclude u r a boffun or buffon to make it better.

Look at this nincompoop calling me names.
Are u out of ur mind?
Let it be known i have got no time for simpletons like u.
Fucking cunt.

@Jackal

I forgot to add - and a goat.

LOL

@Jackal


People lie a lot in the world.


@Thread

Chrissantus is not up to 26.

@wosiljoy,

yeah people lie in europe but its gonna be difficult over there,

but it still doesn't bury the fact that by the time chrisantus is supposed to peak, nothing happens,

for example look at the 2005 under 20 team,

why is it only taye taiwo and mikel obi that we've been hearing of ever since, what happened to the rest of the team, owoeri, isaac okoronkwo, dem adeleye and the rest, wat happened to them, ?

what happened to the u-17 team of 1993, why is it only kanu, babayaro and oruma that we heard came out, what happened to dem anosike, odini and the rest, they just disappeared into thin air, because by the time they are supposed to be 23 they are 45, thats just the problem,

and again i'm very sure that the nigerian team that won the recent under 17 tournament would be different from the team that would play the under 20 tournament in future, why, because we would get a buncha 30 yr olds claiming that they are under 20, then the victorious team of the u-17 would not graduate to the position,

u see, nigerian football is a total mess!!!

and the problem is wit ourselves

Festus Odini is a player at

http://www.zerozero.pt/uk/equipa.php?id=4043

quite a step down, now why does that not surprise me!

Tottenham have bid £1.5m for Nigerian teenager Macauley Chrisantus and hope to bring him to England in the near future.

He was the top scorer at the Under-17 World Cup and can move from Nigeria outside the transfer window as he is not under contract.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=482421&in_page_id=1771&ICO=SPORT&ICL=TOPART

Talented 17-year-old Nigerian Macauley Chrisantus is set to snub Tottenham for Premier League rivals Arsenal
http://www.footballtransferleague.co.uk/football_player.aspx?football_player=Macauley+Chrisantus