Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has disclosed that he was in contact with Bournemouth midfielder Phillip Billing and said the player is interested in playing for Nigeria.
Rumors linked the players with the three times African champions last in the past couple of weeks, but the German gaffer confirmed that the holding midfielder contacted him through his agent.
Billing has a Nigerian father but his mum is a Dane and he’s has played for Denmark at the age-grade level, which means he still eligible to represent the Super Eagles.
Rohr however revealed that the player is on interest in playing for because of his lack of playing time with the Danish national side.
“There was one problem with Phil Billing. Billing’s agent called me and said he’s interested to play for Nigeria, because he’s not playing so much, only as an (unused) substitute for Denmark,” Rohr said to Colin Udoh in an Instagram conversation.
“So he wanted me to call him, I said I didn’t have his number, so he gave me Billing’s number.
“He (Billing) asked me some questions about the Nigerian team, and he said I’m very, very interested to play for you, but give me some time’.
Billing is yet to make his senior debut for Denmark despite making the substitute bench on six occasions.
Rohr added that the player and his agent could also be using the interest of Nigeria to pressurize the Danish national team coach for more playing time.
“I think the agent is using a little bit of the interest from Nigeria to give him more chances to play for Denmark.
“Sometimes you can have these deceptions and disappointment,” the Franco-German coach concluded.
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