Newcastle incurs debt on Obafemi

By Saliu Gbadamosi - 07.05.2008

Obafemi MartinsNEWCASTLE United is owing Italian Serie A side, Inter Milan £6 million (about N1.5billion), being part of the transfer fee payable on Nigerian international, Obafemi Martins.

Obafemi was brought to St James Park by former manager Glenn Roeder in the summer of 2006 in a £10million deal.

But The Evening Chronicle reported on Monday that there was an agreement between the two clubs that United would pay the fee over five years. Up till date, Newcastle has only paid £4 in the fee.

Tribunesports recalls that the Nigerian striker became an instant hit in the Roeder squad but hit a brickwall under Sam Allardyce, who took over from Roeder. Allardyce did not hide his dislike for Obafemi as he dropped him in the peck order, forcing the Nigerian played a second fiddle to England forward Micheal Owen.

The Evening Chronicle reported that Allardyce told Obafemi through his agent that he was ready to sell the Nigerian last summer, at a time Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger was interested in bringing Obafemi to the Emirates Stadium.