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By Ebenezer Bayela
Last month, European giants, AC Milan, announced the signing of Nigeria international, Samuel Chukwueze, from Villarreal, bringing an end to the forward’s five-year spell in Spain, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
While the Yellow Submarines are yet to get over the loss of their Nigerian gem, popularly referred to as ‘Samu’ among Spain’s football faithful, Atletico Madrid and the Spanish league are already celebrating the arrival of a new ‘Samu’, who announced himself to LaLiga with an impressive debut on match-day one of the new season.
Prior to his transfer to Milan, Chukwueze was listed among the top five prolific players in LaLiga since 2022.
The Nigerian was one of the five players in the Spanish topflight to reach double figures for both goals and assists in all competitions since 2022.
Overall, Chukwueze netted 37 goals, registering 31 assists for the Yellow Submarines.
The new ‘Samu’ is no other than Nigerian teenager Samuel Omorodion.
While Chukwueze’s fans were reeling over his exit, Omorodion rose to the occasion, scoring on his LaLiga debut for Granada, who lost 3-1 to Atletico.
However, his performance on the day didn’t escape Atletico manager, Diego Simeone, who immediately went for his man.
Born May 5, 2004, in Melilla, Spain, to Nigerian parents, Omorodion moved to Maracena, Granada, Andalusia at a young age and started his career with Nervion U-19 side in 2021 before joining Granada’s U-19 that same year.
While his career is still in the early stages, Omorodion is already showing signs that he could be one of the best strikers in Spain in years to come.
The 19-year-old scored 24 goals for Granada’s Juvenile team in his first season at the club, before scoring 18 goals and recording five assists in 33 games in the Segunda Federacion last season, helping the Nazaries gain promotion to the topflight.
On his LaLiga debut against Atletico, Omorodion produced a performance enough to convince Simeone to request the club to pay the striker’s release clause.
And Los Rojiblancos on Monday completed the signing of the Super Eagles-eligible forward after paying €6m, his minimum release clause.
Simeone’s side finished third, a point behind city rivals Real Madrid, in the 2022/23 season and will hope to reclaim the league title they last won in the 2020/21 season.
Though just 19, Omorodion has proven that he has what it takes to play among the elite players with his performance against his current employers August 13 a testament to that.
Omorodion harassed Mario Hermoso, baiting him into a first-half yellow card, and later scored the visitors’ equaliser, before the hosts romped to a 3-1 win.
Almost guaranteed to start for Atletico due to the struggles of Alvaro Morata and Memphis Depay, The Mattress Makers, as their name translates in English, will hope that the new ‘Samu’ in town can replicate the form of his compatriot and namesake, who guided Villarreal to a Europa League victory in the 2020/21 season.
Standing at 6ft 4in with a lot of pace and agility, the striker will be a source of worry for many defenders in the Spanish League.
Eligible to represent Nigeria or Spain, Omorodion received his first call-up to the Spanish U-19 national team in April.