Olympique Marseille’s Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo is attracting a lot of interest from some of the of the EPL’s top clubs. The 25 year old burst onto the scene with the talented Nigerian u-20 World Cup squad back in 2005. The Flying Eagles however, lost out in the final to an equally talented Argentina that included Lionel Messi. It was Taiwo’s performances that night that portrayed him as one of the continent’s stars to look out for.
Sure to that billing, Taiwo has not failed to impress. With a fierce left kick, Taiwo has become a regular fixture for both club and country. Liverpool and Tottenham are the two clubs that have shown a strong interest in securing Taiwo’s services for the new season amidst resists from Marseille president Jean Claude Dassier who has maintained that Taiwo won’t be leaving.
“It’s done,” he said. “He’s staying with Marseille. He’s a top player and he should be staying here. I don’t know if the old president promised that he could leave, but that’s not me.”
I can understand Dassier’s concern. Taiwo has the ability to attack and is also good at taking free-kicks (anyone who has watched him play knows that he drives a mean shot). In addition to this, he is one of those players who just doesn’t seem to get tired.
A defender of such calibre is rare to come across and even worse to lose. At 25, Taiwo has every right to consider his future. A move to England would grant him exposure and the publicity that every player loves to deny. However, as much as Taiwo might be interested in an overseas move, it all depends on Dassier.
Photo credit: from Rodrigo Ferreira CRVG
