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 three years."
Huesca confirmed Nwakali's departure on Tuesday. The midfielder's contract had been due to expire in June.
Nwakali, whose uncle is Arsenal legend Kanu, made 33 appearances for Huesca and also had a loan spell at Alcorcon. The midfielder signed for the Gunners in the summer of 2016 from Diamond Football Academy in Nigeria before being loaned out to Jupiler League side MVV Maastricht. He arrived with some pedigree and hype following a starring performance in the 2015 U-17 World Cup, where he captained Nigeria to the title, winning the Golden Ball in the process.
A statement from the Association of Spanish Footballers said: "After communicating the Huesca Sports Society, this past Tuesday, April 5, the end of the contractual relationship that it had with the soccer player Kelechi Nwakali, the Spanish Soccer Players Association wants to state the following:
"SD Huesca notified the footballer that a disciplinary file was being opened on February 4, 2022 due to alleged events that have led to the club's unilateral decision to fire the player. Since the enormous defenselessness that this situation was causing in the affected person became known, he made himself available to Kelechi Nwakali, advising him and defending his legitimate interests.
"Given the numerous information that is appearing, some erroneous, AFE wants to clarify that the dismissal will be challenged -as it cannot be otherwise- before the courts of the city of Huesca with the aim of continuing to safeguard the labor rights of the soccer player.
"AFE understands that, with this unilateral resolution adopted by the club, the labor rights of Kelechi Nwakali have been clearly violated ."
