Michael Folorunsho won’t be honouring his first senior call up to the national team of Italy extended to him by coach Roberto Mancini, Owngoalnigeria.com reports.
Folorunsho who is on loan to Italian second division side Bari from Napoli is rated among the best midfielders in the second division and was handed a spot in the list of Serie B players for a close camping of players eligible to play for Italy.
The camp in Coverciano is dedicated to players of national interest and it started today, it’s a new stage in the process undertaken last season by the FIGC to facilitate the transition from the national youth teams to the senior national team and expand the base of selectable players.
However Folorunsho who qualifies to play for Nigeria and has already had preliminary contacts with representatives of the African country won’t be part of the squad for this particular camp.
His reason isn’t connected to the fact that he is eligible for Nigeria as speculated in some quarters rather it is due to the knock he picked up while in training with Bari. He will be sidelined for a week, a huge blow for 3rd placed Bari who are strongly in contention for promotion to the Serie A.
He has played in all 17 games for Bari this season with five goals making him their joint second top scorer despite the fact that he plays in the midfield.
