Former Super Eagles midfielder, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has explained how he left Paris Saint-Germain, PSG, to join Bolton Wanderers in England.
During an interview with John Obi Mikel on the Obi One Podcast, Okocha was asked how then-Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce convinced him to leave one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Paris, for Bolton.
The former Nigerian midfielder and captain said: “It came at the right time, and to be honest, I didn’t do my research.
“You know, when you think that everywhere in England is nice. Especially when you were told that Bolton is just 10–15 minutes away from Manchester.
“Before then, I’d been to London, and I played against Man United in Manchester. So, when I heard Bolton was just 10 or 15 minutes away from Manchester, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s the same level.’
“So, when I was invited to negotiate, they picked me up at Manchester Airport and drove me straight to the stadium. You know, the stadium is beautiful. I had a tour of the stadium, hotel, everything. This looks nice. Interesting.
“They didn’t take me to the training ground. [They kept that from me.] So, it was after I signed and resumed that I went to the training ground. The changing room was a cabin. The shower was just three people at a time. You know, you had to queue.
“I said, ‘Oh, Jay-Jay, what are you doing here?’ You know. So, when I came, I left my family in Paris. But, you know, as a football person, I could live anywhere.”
Transfer: ‘I didn’t do my research’ – Jay Jay Okocha opens up on leaving PSG for Bolton Wanderers