Dad reveals he talked to Iwobi before ex-England underage international pledged future to Nigeria

Alex Iwobi's dad, Chuka Iwobi has admitted that he held clear-the-air talks with the Hale End Academy product before he committed his international future to Nigeria.

Prior to his invitation to a Nigeria U23 training camp in 2015, the former Arsenal winger was an underage international for England, where he grew up, making appearances for the Young Lions at U16, U17 and U18 levels.

Iwobi comes from a footballing family, with his two uncles - Emmanuel and Austin Okocha - representing Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations before hanging up their boots, while his father played locally for NITEL Vasco Da Gama.

Iwobi Senior says he is delighted to see his son play for Nigeria, the country he originally hails from.

In an interview with Baller Talk's James Alabi via YouTube, Chuka Iwobi said : "For me, it is massive really. I played football when I was younger, obviously I didn't get to that level.

"I played in the local league in Nigeria, I never got to play for the Super Eagles.

"For me it is a dream come true and obviously we have to go through a process, sort of talking to Alex in terms of whether it's something that would interest him".

Iwobi is one of the most recognizable Nigerian players thanks to his exploits in the well-watched English Premier League and the Super Eagles.

His father revealed that the highlight of Iwobi's national team career was scoring the goal that took the Super Eagles to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"I use the word massive, every time I watch Alex even up to this stage it's sort of like a dream come true, realizing where he'd come from the academy at Arsenal and then to Everton.

"Each time I see him play at Goodison Park, the Emirates or wherever I still pinch myself and say am I really dreaming?

"The highlight of the whole thing was him scoring the goal that took Nigeria to Russia, and for me being at the Stadium it's a day I'll never forget really," Chuka Iwobi added.

At 25 years of age, Iwobi is three games away from reaching half a century of caps for the Super Eagles, less than six years after his senior debut against Democratic Republic of Congo.