Nigerian-Italian Youngster Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale Chooses Italy Over Super Eagles Rising football talent Destiny Onoguekhan Elimoghale, a 15-year-old winger born to Nigerian parents in Italy on April 23, 2009, has made it clear that his international future lies with the Italian national team. Currently a standout player in the Juventus Football Academy, Elimoghale has been making waves in youth football, particularly with Italy’s U-17 squad. His impressive speed and attacking prowess were on full display in the ongoing UEFA U-17 European Championship qualifiers, where he played a crucial role in Italy’s recent 2-1 victory over Croatia. Coming off the bench, he scored the decisive goal, underlining his potential as a game-changer. In an interview with Calcio Mercato, Elimoghale expressed his deep connection to the Azzurri and his desire to continue representing Italy at the international level. “For me, the national team is everything. It is something extraordinary because not everyone can wear the blue shirt. My future will, therefore, still be in blue hues, and I can not wait to fight to become a U-17 European Champion,” he stated. His firm commitment to Italy effectively rules out any possibility of playing for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the future. Inspired by Football Greats Despite frequently being compared to AC Milan’s Rafael Leão, Elimoghale draws inspiration from Brazilian legend Neymar, whom he considers his football idol. Additionally, he admires Juventus first-team star Kenan Yildiz and closely follows his playing style, striving to incorporate similar techniques into his own game. The young prospect also revealed his fascination with the number 11 jersey, a number traditionally associated with flair players. “I have always looked at the great talents that made it to the senior team, and in particular, Kenan Yildiz is the one I try to imitate the most. He always wears the number 11 shirt, which, like the number 10, carries significant weight—especially at Juventus. In black and white, Paul Pogba wore it, and I consider him a player to look up to among Juventus legends.” Future Aspirations Elimoghale remains focused on his development with Italy’s youth setup, determined to carve a successful path in professional football. With his skill set and mindset, he aims to emulate the success of his football idols and make a name for himself on the international stage. For Nigeria, the loss of yet another promising young player to European football underscores the ongoing challenge of retaining dual-nationality stars, particularly those who develop their careers in top-tier European academies. However, for Elimoghale, the future is set—his dream is to shine in Italy’s famous blue jersey.