Why Bayern’s Michael Olise ‘unfortunately’ refused to play for Super Eagles

Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise is having an outstanding season, breaking records with the Bavarian giants, Afrik Foot reports.

The 24-year-old has scored 23 goals and provided 27 assists in 52 games, but could have played for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Olise was born in Hammersmith, England, to a British-Nigerian father and Franco-Algerian mother.

Why Michael Olise refused to play for the Super Eagles

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has revealed he reached out to the French attacker about representing the three-time AFCON winners, but he refused.

“In 2019 I saw this player (Michael Olise) with my assistant Tunde (Adelakun),” the German tactician said, as per Brila.

“We had a look on him, we went to watch a match and we tried to invite him, but he didn’t want to join us this time because I think he already knew he can have a big future in a European team.

“He can play for several countries of course. This player already was playing well.

“As at when we saw him, that was six to seven years ago, we saw him so strong. Unfortunately, he refused to play for Nigeria,” the former Super Eagles coach concluded.

Olise himself revealed in a previous interview that he’s proud to have roots from four different countries.

“Nationality says where you come from. And I actually come from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and Great Britain,” the former Crystal Palace winger said on the FC Bayern Magazine 51.

“I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me. I feel each individual part in me, I’ve developed attachments in all my countries.

“When I was growing up in London, we regularly visited Algeria, Nigeria and France. My dad always spoke English with me at home, my mum French – and I always answered both in English. I feel very comfortable with French too.”

Olise is just one of many talents Nigeria missed out on over the past decade. Eberechi Eze, Jamal Musiala, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham also opted to play for European nations over the Super Eagles.