Karim Adeyemi: Why I opted for Salzburg against Chelsea

 

Karim Adeyemi has opened up on his decision to snub a potential move to Chelsea and join Red Bull Salzburg in 2018.

Adeyemi, 19, is attracting plenty of interest in European football amid a string of impressive performances for Salzburg.

The striker was originally on Bayern Munich’s books as a youngster, only to eventually be released by his boyhood club over behavioural issues he has openly admitted.

Six years later Chelsea invited him to their Cobham training complex in the hope of signing him from German outfit SpVgg Unterhaching.

However, Adeyemi instead decided to reject the Blues’ advances in favour of a move to Salzburg.

“First of all, it is important to me that I play regularly.” Adeyemi told Sport1.

“My focus is currently on the Austrian league. I am very happy that I have so much time here. I am fully focused on the task in Salzburg.

“I’m very happy that I can play here in Salzburg and that I get my minutes on a regular basis. Every moment on the pitch is precious.

“I want to play in a club where I feel comfortable. Of course I dream of a Champions League win. It would be great to play for a club that regularly competes to win the Champions League.

“But that’s not what I have in mind right now. For me it is important that I develop myself further in Salzburg.” said Adeyemi who is a product of Nigerian father and Romanian mother.

Read AlsoNigeria’s Adeyemi breaks Salzburg Champions League record

Adeyemi impressed on loan at Salzburg’s feeder club, FC Liefering, in the second half of last season and has returned to become an important member of Jesse Marsch’s side.

The teenager is now being touted as a future star, but he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.