Every word Aribo said on Crystal Palace & Aston Villa links, Gerrard, Sierra Leone, preferred position :: All Nigeria Soccer

Glasgow Rangers ace Joe Aribo has reported for international duty in Abuja ahead of the national team’s upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.

The versatile midfielder holds the distinction of starting all the nineteen games he has been involved for the Super Eagles, under three different coaches Gernot Rohr, Augustine Eguavoen and Jose Peseiro.

Aribo, only the second Nigerian player to score in the final of a European competition after Alex Iwobi, has entered the last one year of his contract with Rangers and it is confirmed that he’s not interested in extending his stay at the Ibrox Stadium beyond June 2023, meaning the Scottish Cup winners could be looking to cash in on the 25-year-old this summer.

As such, the future of the former Charlton Athletic man has dominated the back pages at home and abroad since the start of 2022.

In an interview with Nigerian journalists on Monday morning  Aribo was quizzed on Thursday’s AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone including preparations,  reports linking him with possible moves to Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Steven Gerrard, and his preferred position on the pitch.

Here’s every word the Super Eagles number 10 said :

We have a crucial match against Sierra Leone, how are you prepared?

I’m here, the boys are ready, we are well rested, listening to the instructions from the coaches and we are going to just take ourselves out there and showcase what we can do.

Sierra Leone they are a good side so how are you motivated to face them?

We know we have to give one hundred percent. We need to showcase the talent that we have and hopefully that will get us over the line and take us to what we want which is three points.

It’s a must-win match in Nigeria before going to Marrakesh. The group, how are they prepared?

I think every single game we are going to we are expected to win. We want to win first of all so the boys are ready, we are ready to go and hopefully we can get three points.

Aribo there are rumours linking you with clubs in the Premier League like Crystal Palace, Aston Villa. Would you like to make that move to the Premier League now?

I’m not focused on that. Right now I’m with Nigeria so I’m just focusing on playing with my country and representing my country.

How would you describe your former manager Steven Gerrard who is now at Aston Villa?

He’s a good coach on and off the pitch. He really helped me settle my first time away from home so I’ve got no bad word to say about him.

Would you like to work with him again?

Like I said I’m not focused on all of that stuff, I’m just focusing on Nigeria right now.

We saw news about the preferred position you’ll like to play, because we know you can play as a 10 or as a striker. Even at your club you’ve played at those positions, which position do you prefer whether at clubside or national team?

I’ll say either an 8 or 10, so box-to-box midfielder or an attacking midfielder and a striker.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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