Nigeria U20 midfielder Jack Ipalibo was pictured in action training with the first team of Spanish LaLiga side Villarreal ahead of their 2-1 win over Levante earlier today.
Although he didn’t get to make the matchday squad for the game, the fact that he was involved with the first team before the game shows how well he is valued by the team.
Ipalibo has been at the club for a year now, and in that period of time he has grown into one of the most influential players for the youth team of the LaLiga side.
Since joining the team he has been ever present for the B team, and his performance has earned him rare reviews leaving the club with no choice but to include him in the training activities of the first team.
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Pictured in white bib, the 19 year old whom many of his teammates in the Nigerian youth team call Yaya Toure due to similarities in his style of play with that of Ivorian super star Yaya Toure of Manchester City.
His rise will no doubt motivate his fellow Nigeria youth international Samuel Chukwueze who has been churning out impressive performances for the U19 of the team.
Chukwueze joined Villarreal in the summer, a move first reported by this portal when he impressed the technical crew of the team during a short trial with the team in January.
The duo will now be hoping they make the step up to the first team before the end of the season, although for now it appears Ipalibo stands a better chance of turning out for the first team than Chukwueze.
Ade Emmanuel
