Arsenal fans around the globe have been left heartbroken by the announcement that 16-year-old football prodigy, Chido Obi-Martin, is leaving the London-based club. Obi-Martin, whose father is Nigerian and mother is Danish, took to Instagram to bid farewell to the Arsenal faithful, expressing gratitude for his time and growth at the club.
“The experience and growth I have achieved here are truly invaluable. I will always cherish the memories we made,” wrote Obi-Martin in his farewell message.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the talented youngster, who stunned everyone last season by scoring 10 goals in a single match against Liverpool U16, is set to continue his career at Manchester United. As of now, Manchester United has not released an official statement regarding the move.
During his tenure with Arsenal’s Under-18 team, Obi-Martin scored an impressive 29 goals in 17 matches, showcasing his potential as a future football star.
Arsenal Fans’ Reaction
The news of Chido Obi-Martin’s transfer has not been well received by Arsenal fans. Many have speculated that the move was driven by financial incentives. One Arsenal fan on X (formerly Twitter) expressed relief that the club did not match the alleged wage offer from Manchester United.
“He’s just 16 years old, and paying him £30k like United is absolutely crazy. We have a wage structure, and £15k is pretty fair. I wish him all the best,” wrote the user with the handle UncleYakub.
Conversely, another fan, Sean Soobiya, commented on Instagram: “Good for him, but don’t come back to Arsenal if United isn’t everything you thought it would be.”
The last notable striker to make the switch from Arsenal to Manchester United was Alexis Sanchez in 2018. However, Sanchez later regretted the move, stating in 2020 that he wished he could have torn up his contract and returned to Arsenal after his first training session with United. In contrast, Robin Van Persie made a successful transition in the 2012/2013 season, helping United secure the Premier League title that year.
Who is Chido Obi-Martin?
Chido Obi-Martin, born on November 29, 2007, in Glostrup, a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark, is a rising football talent. His mother is Danish, and his father is Nigerian, belonging to the Igbo ethnic group. Obi-Martin began his football journey with Danish club Kjøbenhavns Boldklub (KB) before joining Arsenal at the age of 14.
Despite being eligible to play for Denmark, England, and Nigeria, he has so far represented Denmark’s U16 and U17 national teams, as well as England’s U16 team. Notably, Obi-Martin scored 10 goals against Liverpool U16 and seven goals in a match against Norwich U18, contributing significantly to Arsenal’s victories.
At just 16 years old, Obi-Martin is too young to sign a professional contract. Reports indicate he will join Manchester United as a free agent, marking a new chapter in his promising football career.
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