'I did not sleep at all' - Super Eagles legend Amuneke admits he was excited to join Barcelona
Published: February 27, 2023Nigeria legend and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning winger Emmanuel Amuneke has admitted that he was over the moon after sealing a transfer to La Liga giants Barcelona in 1996.
Amuneke earned a move to Barcelona after putting himself in the shop window at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he helped the original Dream Team to win Africa's first gold medal in the football event of the Olympic Games.
One of Nigeria's marquee players in the 1990s and also a onetime African Footballer of the Year, Amuneke played in Zamalek for three years before making the leap to Portuguese football with Sporting Lisbon.
He was with the Portuguese setup for two years before joining Barcelona in exchange for three million euros.
At the Camp Nou, he shared a dressing room with some legendary Blaugrana players such as Luis Enrique, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola and Luis Figo.
Asked how he felt on the night he knew he was joining Barcelona from Sporting Lisbon, Amuneke said to The Punch : "I was very excited joining the biggest team in Europe at that time and to play under Louis Van Gaal was one experience I was looking forward to.
"On the eve of the day I was to sign for Barcelona, I did not sleep at all and in the morning I was nervous when the entourage did not come on time to pick me.
"I thought the deal will fall through but they came and I was glad to have played for the team.
"I am glad to have played for Barcelona in my active days in football, but the present generation is far better than my era when the likes of Pep Guardiola, Ronaldo de Lima, Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo were the star players of the side."
In his four-year association with Barcelona, Amuneke made only 26 appearances due to injuries and registered one goal and two assists in all competitions.
The 52-year-old Amuneke is currently the head coach of Zambian Super League side, Zanaco FC.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo Credit : fcbarcelona.com
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- Finidi sweats over fitness of 2023 AFCON star Onyeka before Super Eagles squad announcement
- Potential Zirkzee replacement: Bologna linked with move for 2023 Super Eagles invitee
- U17 AFCON qualifier Nigeria 1 Niger 0: Rapha Adams header secures three points for Golden Eaglets
- Isaac Success: 2013 U17 AFCON top scorer suffers injury in Italy ahead of Finidi's squad announcement
- After the return to action of Onuachu and Osayi-Samuel, Finidi has another fitness boost pre-Bafana Bafana
- Bayo Fapetu: Derby County in contract talks with midfielder who was on the books of Arsenal for ten years
- Photo: Eberechi Eze takes son of ex-Super Eagles star Victor Moses under his wing at Crystal Palace
- Osimhen's replacement: Napoli contact Man Utd over signing one-cap England international
- Official: Millwall release three Nigerian players ahead of next season
- Rangers boss provides fitness update on Super Eagles CB ahead of Scottish FA Cup final v Celtic
- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football