Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev have taken Nigeria defender Taye Taiwo from AC Milan on a season-long loan, joining compatriots Yusuf Ayila, Lukman Haruna and Brown Ideye at the club.
The 27-year-old joined Milan from Marseille last summer but struggled for a regular first-team place, spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Premier League club QPR.
After being frozen out in pre-season at Milan, he has opted to move again.
“Coming to the Ukraine is a great opportunity for me to earn a regular first-team place,” he told BBC Sport.
“I know Milan is a big club but I am not a player who is happy to sit down, collecting salary without playing football.
“I’ve considered a lot of things and I realised going elsewhere for regular football is greater than a life on the Milan bench.”
Dynamo Kiev have been given an option to sign Taiwo outright for €2m at the end of the season.
BBC Sport understands English Premier League pair Queens Park Rangers and Reading, Portuguese side Benfica and French outfit Marseille approached AC Milan for the Nigerian.
But his wage demands derailed talks of a switch to England, Portugal or a return to former club Marseille, where he is still a crowd favourite.
Taiwo explained, “It was a dream to move to AC Milan but to be honest I never had the chance to show what I am capable of doing but that is life.
“I chose to come to Dynamo Kiev because of the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League and also to experience a new life.
“It was very important to consider my international career and I took this decision with that in mind.
“I know the Nigerians (Ideye, Ayila and Haruna) from the national team set-up. I have been friends with Yusuf (Ayila) for several years. That makes it a lot easier to settle down.
All four players were part of the Nigerian squad that went to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Hope u settle down there fast, cos it be like say their weather cold small for that place.
No comments:
Post a Comment