Nigerian-born midfielder gets fans’ support to stay in Real Madrid first-team
Nigerian-born midfielder Marvin Olawale Akinlabi Park is still in the news after he was handed a first ever start by Real Madrid in Tuesday night’s La Liga win over Getafe.
The 20-year-old shone during his 55 minutes on the pitch and there are suggestions that he should now be afforded a run in the first-team squad, with Marca reporting that an online poll of fans revealed that over 70 percent want him to remain in the squad.
It was Park’s third game of the campaign for Los Blancos – having featured as a substitute in the opening day draw at Real Sociedad and during Saturday’s win at Huesca – but Tuesday night was his first senior start.
He was selected ahead of Isco – who had returned to fitness – but also ahead of Castilla stars Antonio Blanco and Sergio Arribas, who were expected to be ahead of Park in the pecking order.
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Despite Los Azulones trying to intimidate the player, the 20-year-old stood up to the task and impressed in his near-hour on the pitch before being withdrawn due to assumed fatigue.
Interestingly, Park, whose full name is Marvin Olawale Akinlabi was born in Palma de Mallorca to a Nigerian father and South Korean mother .