World Cup 2018: Etebo too good to play for our club – Stoke fans

Nigeria midfielder, Oghenakaro Etebo, has set the social media into agog with his new club Stoke City fans applauding his performances in the  World Cup in Russia.

Despite conceding an own goal in the 2-0 opening match defeat to Croatia in Kaliningrad on June 22, the  22-year-old, who made a shocking move from a Portuguese football club, Feirense, to  Stoke City in England in a £6.3m deal on June 11, completed 93 per cent accurate passes, won eight duels and fired two shots at goal, was named in the FIFA  team  for the first round of matches.

The former Warri Wolves star confirmed his class  with another  dominant showing in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 defeat of Iceland  at the Volgograd Arena on Friday.

Etebo, who formed a tripod with Wilfred Ndidi and Mikel Obi in Nigeria’s coach Gernot Rohr’s 3-5-2 formation against the Nordic side,  helped the Eagles to break up play and drive the attack.

And some of  the  Potters fans, who are excited by their new mobile and energetic signee’s impressive performances in the World Cup, are of the opinion that the Nigerian star is too good to play in their  English second-tier club, who got relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.

According to Stokesentinel, Etebo’s  representatives said the player, who was linked with Premier League sides  Leicester City and Newcastle before making a surprise move to Stoke,  would be “better off playing for a competitive team pushing for promotion from the Championship rather than one struggling near the wrong end of the Premier League.”

Some fans insist  Etebo made a hasty move to the bet365 Stadium.

“Etebo is too good for Stoke,” one of the fans Simon Jones wrote on Twitter.

“I can’t believe we signed Etebo before the World Cup. Could be an absolute steal. #scfc,” Wayne Adams wrote.

“Not only do we annoy championship fans we are also annoying some Nigerian fans because we signed Etebo and he’s too good for us apparently – love it!!”

Mike wrote, “If we sold Etebo again before the season starts how much money would we get?”

“Stoke City signed Etebo for €7m. That’s the best bargain in football’s history,” Fekir wrote.

Linda Benneth tweeted, “We will have a battle to keep Etebo at this rate! Hope we’ve learned about making a great contract! Stick with us – we’ll be back in the Prem next season.”

“Stoke going to be very good next year. Etebo looking like a top signing for #scfc,” one fan wrote.

 Meanwhile, Stoke praised the player for his showing in the World Cup.

“Congratulations Etebo! Soaring with the Super Eagles!!,”  the club tweeted.