Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, has reacted to news of Lionel Messi’s weekly take-home of £1 million at Paris St-Germain.
After more than 20 years, Messi finally left Barcelona to pitch his tent with the French giant, PSG.
Okocha told The Guardian in a telephone chat soon after the news of Messi’s big pay broke out that his time as a footballer came too early.
“I came too early and Messi came at the right time,†Okocha joked. “If I was paid such amount of money in my playing days, maybe I would have stayed back in France forever. I wouldn’t have thought of coming to Nigeria.â€
Jay Jay Okocha’s magical display lured many Nigerian fans to French League in his playing days.
In 1998, the Nigerian set a transfer record when he left Fenerbahce in Turkey to PSG in France on a fee of £12.4 million, which was the highest by an African player at that time.
He left PSG for Bolton Wonderers in England in 2002 on a free transfer.
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For many Nigerian fans, Okocha’s magical skills on the field of play is comparable to whatever Messi offers in present-day football.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
