Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho has explained why he rejected the opportunity to remain at Celtic, saying Bursaspor’s long-term project convinced him to move to the Turkish club.
Iheanacho joined Bursaspor last week after his one-year contract with Scottish champions Celtic expired.
The 29-year-old had moved to Celtic in September after leaving Sevilla following a loan spell at Middlesbrough.
Although Celtic manager Martin O’Neill later disclosed that the club offered the Nigerian a new contract, Iheanacho opted for a move to Bursaspor, who secured promotion from the TFF Second League last season and are targeting another promotion to the Turkish Super Lig.
Speaking in his first interview with the club, Iheanacho said Bursaspor’s ambition immediately appealed to him.
He said: “To be fair, Bursaspor is a big club in Turkey and I had heard that they had previously won the Turkish Super Lig.”
The former Leicester City forward added: “When I heard about their project, that they wanted to climb up to the Super Lig and also play in Europe, I said that this is a big project and it’s very good for me to come and be involved and help the team.”
Explaining how determined he was to complete the move, Iheanacho said: “So I asked my agent to make sure he does everything possible to make sure I come to Bursaspor.
“My target is for us to go to the Super Lig.”
The striker also compared Bursaspor’s famous green-and-white colours with those of Celtic.
According to him: “It’s the same green and white, to be fair.
“I don’t know if it’s deja vu, like they say in French.”
He continued: “It’s the same shirt, but Celtic is a bit lighter green, Bursaspor is dark green.
“It’s a little bit different, but it’s all similar. It’s all good.”
Bursaspor president Enes Celik also dismissed reports that Iheanacho was earning £47,000 per week at the club, revealing instead that the Nigerian would receive an annual salary of £1.2 million, equivalent to about £23,000 per week.
Celik said Iheanacho chose “the project over the money” reportedly available elsewhere.
Reacting to the striker’s departure, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admitted he believed the club had reached an agreement with the player.
He said: “There are two sides to every particular transfer as there is to every story.”
O’Neill added: “I thought we had a deal with him at the time, but seemingly that wasn’t the case and so he’s gone to pastures new.”
