Real Madrid player wants to play for Nigeria

Derik Osede
Derik Osede Prieto
                   
I have not heard of him before but BBC has reported that Derik Osede Prieto has revealed he wants to play for Nigeria.
The 22-year-old centre-back, who is known simply as Derik, has played at all youth levels for Spain including two appearances for the Under-21 team.
But Derik, a regular for European giants Real Madrid's B side, is eligible to play for the Super Eagles because his father is Nigerian.
And under Fifa rules he is free to switch because he has not yet played for a country's senior national team.
Despite possessing the talent to potentially make the step up to Spain's senior side, Derik has issued what appears to be effectively a come-and-get-me plea to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
"I have lived in Spain all my life and I am not sure the people in Nigeria are aware that I have Nigerian blood," Derik told BBC Sport.
My father is from Benin City [southern Nigeria] and even though I have never been there I always follow events in Nigeria.
                     Derik Osede Prieto             

"I celebrated when the country won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 and I was cheering the team at the last World Cup in Brazil."
Derik joined Real Madrid's academy in 2002 at the age of nine and has steadily made the transition from the club's C team to the Castilla side [B side], where he has become an integral member of La Fabrica.
An extremely athletic centre-back with great vision, Derik's talent has not gone unnoticed.
Derik has rejected suggestions he could be using Nigeria as a bargaining chip in his push for a call-up from the Spanish U-23 or senior selectors.
He insists: "Even if it's difficult for some people to understand, I have made my decision [to represent Nigeria] and am going to stick to it.
"My father has not influenced my decision in any way. I respect him and adore his outlook on life but it's my personal desire to play for Nigeria.
"When you look around Europe there are several Nigerian players playing at the top level and the future looks bright for the team.

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