Denmark refuse to controversially cap-tie history-making Man Utd striker despite Nigeria interest

The Denmark Football Association has insisted that history-making Manchester United center forward Chido Obi-Martin will not be controversially cap-tied to the country, despite the possibility of the former Arsenal player slipping away from their grasp.

Last weekend, the dual-national player become the highest goalscorer in U18 Premier League history when he opened the scoring in a 3-0 win versus Stoke City, taking his tally to 37 goals in 25 matches in the division. 

Born in Glostrup and raised in Denmark, the precocious talent is eligible to represent Nigeria through his father, Prince Obi, but it is believed the Danish Football Association are ahead of their Nigerian counterparts in the race for his services. 

Obi-Martin would need to file a one-time change of association if he decides to represent the Nigerian national teams in the future as he is provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth, after appearing in an U17 Euro qualifier against Lithuania in October 2023.

According to reports in the Danish press, the Nigeria Football Federation are 'looking hungrily' at Obi-Martin, who has two caps at U16 level for England's Young Lions.

It is not certain that the international future of Obi-Martin has been decided as he can still switch his allegiance to the Nigeria national team by virtue of being born to Nigerian parents. 

"That would be very sad. If we were a club, we could offer him a bigger contract, better terms, a bigger car and a villa," DBU's head of talent, Kenneth Heiner-Møller told BT.

"But we are not a club, so we can only offer him to play in a Danish national team shirt. There is not much we can do."

Kenneth Heiner-Møller has made it clear that Obi-Martin will not be selected for Denmark's senior squad just to cap-tie him.

"I hope that Chido will play for the Danish A national team. But I can guarantee you that he will never, ever be selected for the A national team only with the aim of tying him to Denmark.

"I am well aware that there are some other countries that look at this sort of thing differently.

"And there will probably be some who think that it is unambitious and frivolous of us. But there are just other things that count more for us.

"We are not going to bind anyone to a national team that they do not want to represent in the long term.

"I hope that Chido and everyone else who has multiple citizenships will choose what they think is right. And I mean that completely sincerely."

Obi-Martin is looked after by London-based Nigerian agent Emeka Obasi, who also handles the affairs of Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi, Josh Maja, Ola Aina, Terem Moffi and Joe Aribo. 

Denmark won the recruitment battle for Patrick Dorgu (Lecce), Philip Billing (Bournemouth) and Isabella Obaze (Portland Thorns). 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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