Iheanacho Names Ex-Arsenal Star As The Player Who Helped Him Settle In At Manchester City

Kelechi Iheanacho showered praise on former Arsenal star Gael Clichy as he recollected his early days in England.

Manchester City saw off competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal to land the services of the Taye Academy product who put himself in the shop window at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, where he was named best player of the tournament held in the United Arab Emirates.

Despite the striker agreeing terms with City in 2013, the deal was held up for more than a year because he had not yet attained the age of majority in addition to work permit issues.

Iheanacho has given credit to Clichy for assisting him make a splash in his debut season in England that saw him score 14 goals in all competitions for Manchester City.

In an Instagram Live chat with Nigerian comedian Funnybone about the start of his professional career and the player who helped him to settle in at Man City, Iheanacho stated : "This one is so dear to my heart, Gael Clichy, the French guy, he's like my teacher on the pitch, in the training, outside the pitch, anywhere.

"I will mention his name anywhere I go, he's so dear to my heart".

Clichy and his mentee Iheanacho both bid farewell to Manchester City in the summer of 2017, with the Nigerian remaining in the Premier League with Leicester City and the Frenchman heading to Istanbul Basaksehir FK in Turkey.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : mancity.com