Former Arsenal wonderkid releases statement as contract is terminated

Former Arsenal midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has opened up on his time at Spanish side SD Huesca after his contract was terminated. Nwakali played for Arsenal between 2016 and 2019, although he never made a first team appearance for the club.

The Nigeria international claims that Huesca sporting director Ruben Garcia put pressure on him not to go to AFCON, paid him late on many occasions and banned him from the club's training ground whilst being owed wages. 23-year-old Nwakali featured for the Super Eagles at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and his contract was expected to run until the summer.

The statement reads: “It comes with huge regret that I am writing this message after SD Huesca announced the termination of my contract. I have kept silent out of respect for the Huesca fans and my teammates, but I will no longer suffer in silence. The time has come for people to know the truth and why these past few months have been awful for me and my family.

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“In Dec 2021, I experienced the biggest honour of my life after I received a full international call up for my beloved Nigeria. But the joy of this moment quickly came crashing down when the club’s Sporting Director, Ruben Garcia, put extreme pressure on me not to go to AFCON due to it ‘not being an important tournament’. He told me that if I go to AFCON I will not play for Huesca again."

He added: "I will never regret my decision to represent Nigeria and all I want to do is get back to playing the sport I love. Lastly, I want to thank the fans and my teammates of Huesca who have been amazing during my time here. I have always given 100% for the club, despite my treatment over the past