According to reports gathered by Owngoalnigeria.com, Derek Osede Prieto who was once on the books of Spanish giants Real Madrid is on Nigeria’s U-23s provisional list for the Rio Olympics.
Osede who presently plays for Bolton Wanderers met with coach of the Nigeria U-23 team Samson Siasia in London during the coach’s visit to check on John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo to confirm their availability as over age players in his team for the Olympics.
Born in Madrid to a Nigerian father and a Spanish mother, Osede represented Spain at U-21 level but switched allegiance to Nigeria last year while still at Spanish giants Real Madrid and was recently issued a Nigerian passport by the Nigerian embassy in London.
He joined Real Madrid in 2002 and rose from the C team to the B team but was only called up to the senior team once during his time at the club and that was when he made the substitute bench for the La-Liga game against Deportivo La Coruna on the 14th of February 2015.
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Last summer following the relegation of Real Madrid B team to the third division he left for English Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer but he once again suffered relegation.
However 23 year old Osede was among the few players who ended the season with pass mark for the Trotters as exemplified by his teammates who voted him as their third best player at their end of the season awards.
Comfortable as a central defender or as a full back he played in exactly half of the league matches Bolton Wanderers played in the Championship last season.
*Rasheed Michael