'I Usually Hear That I play As Messi' - Hammarby's Amoo Admits Barcelona Skipper Is His Role Model

Published: June 13, 2020

Former Nigeria U17 international Akinkunmi Amoo has admitted that he looks up to Barcelona's Argentina superstar Lionel Messi.

The Sidos Academy product recently ended speculation about his future, with Swedish Allsvenskan side Hammarby confirming on Monday that he has put pen to paper on a four-year contract.

When asked to name the player he looks up to, Amoo told Swedish newspaper Expressen : "I usually hear that I play as Leo Messi, so I am sometimes called 'Little Messi'. That is my role model."

Amoo revealed that he turned down possible moves to several European clubs, including Monaco and AC Milan, before agreeing terms with Hammarby.

"To be completely honest, I've only had Hammarby in my mind. I have seen myself in the club since the first day and felt a great joy during my visits to Sweden.

"I have been given the opportunity to see the training facilities and the arena, it is important to have the opportunity to see things in place.

-"But the interest has been great around me. My agent said there was an interest from Monaco in Ligue 1, but I declined. I said, 'I love Hammarby, let's solve it'.

"There was also an interest from AC Milan, they were in contact with Sidos, but I told the coach, the sports manager and the president that I wanted to choose Hammarby," Amoo explained.

The 18-year-old Amoo is hoping to win the Allsvenskan in his first season with Hammarby and take the club to the UEFA Champions League.

Igho Kingsley