Nigeria’s Super Eagles striker, Henry Onyekuru has revealed he is great friends with Younès Belhanda and that the Moroccan midfielder was one of the reasons he signed for Adana Demirspor.
Belhanda spent four years at Galatasaray between 2017 and 2021 and it was at the Istanbul-based club that he met and became friends with Onyekuru.
Onyekuru at the time was on the payroll of Everton but he joined Galatasaray on loan ahead of the 2018-2019 season, having failed to secure a work permit to play in the Premier League.
The skillful attacker went on to enjoy his most successful year in Turkey, helping Galatasaray to a league and cup double triumph.
Onyekuru was one of Gala’s best performers and top scorers as the Yellow-Blacks romp to their 22nd league win in history. His 14 goals that campaign were more than Robinho managed for Sivasspor/Başakşehir (12) and Anthony Nwakaeme netted for Trabzonspor (10).
Monaco signed Onyekuru at the end of that campaign but he returned to Galatasaray and his friend Belhanda during two short spells in 2020 and 2021.
In the summer of 2021, Olympiacos completed the permanent transfer of Onyekuru from Monaco on a four-year deal. Belhanda also ended his association with Gala and switched to Adana.
Super Eagles star Onyekuru, however, struggled to settle in Greece and was open to a move abroad after a year.
His old love Galatasaray were the front-runners for his signature, with Fenerbahce and Besiktas also reportedly interested in him.
But Onyekuru eventually moved to Adana Demirspor and he reveals, with a head-cutting joke, that reuniting with his long-time friend Belhanda was one of the reasons he signed for the Blue Lightnings.
“I think if I remember correctly, Belhanda said something like ‘If you don’t come to Adana Demirspor, I will cut your head off, I will break your head’. (Laughing) Of course, it was a joke,” Onyekuru said, as per Fanatik.
“The reason why he wanted to is that we already have a friendship from the past, we played together on the field. On this occasion, he asked me to come, thinking that we would better understand and adapt to each other on the field. It was such a moment.”
Onyekuru’s first five months at Adana Demirspor have been productive with the 25-year-old netting four goals and contributing two assists in 12 matches for the Turkish side.
His contribution has been crucial to Adana Demirspor’s rising to the third position on the Super Lig table with 24 points, five fewer than leaders Fenerbahce.
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