Oghenekaro Etebo recently concluded his loan move from English Championship side Stoke City to Turkish outfit Galatasaray. His second consecutively loan spell away from the club.
Last season he spent the last six months with La Liga side Getafe has he was deemed surplus to requirements by coach Michael O’Neil. Just six months after he was voted the club’s player of the season.
At Getafe he didn’t quite stamp his feet in the first team but he was hoping the spell will help him revive his career with the English Championship side who are keen on promotion to the English Premier League.
However all of that changed when the club signed former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel, who also plays in the middle like Etebo.
Mikel impressed in pre season games while Etebo was away as he was handed an extended break. In his absence Mikel filled the extra midfield slot O’Neil was desperate to cover.
O’Neil’s satisfaction with Mikel made it easy for the coach to turn his back on suggestions to hand Etebo a second chance at the club. Hence the decision to loan him to Galatasaray with the option of signing him for £7 million also included in the deal.
