Alonso Hails Tella’s Quality

Bayer Leverkusen coach, Xabi Alonso, has heaped plaudits on new Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella offering insight to how best he could be deployed in the team.

The Bayer Leverkusen winger was named in the Eagles squad to face Lesotho and Zimbabwe in this week’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Alonso believes the 24-year-old winger will be a great asset to the three time African champions.

“Nathan (Tella) is a player that has the ability to just do the right thing, be in the right place,” Alonso said.

“He (Tella) has the quality to be in the box and makes the right runs.

“In Nigeria, they have great strikers, and maybe they could use good wingers. He’s a really nice guy with a strong mentality, he has a great attitude.”

Speaking on his maiden invitation to the Eagles, the former Burnley star said he is looking forward to his international debut.

“I’m really happy about this first chance to play for my country. That was one of the goals I had set myself for this season,” Tella told German daily Kicker.

“I was surprised. I found out about the nomination after the game in Baku. “I was pretty upset with how I played.

“Receiving such good news gave me a lot of self-confidence for the game (against Union Berlin). I haven’t shown my best performance yet. I can still learn a lot,” Tella added.

Born in Lambeth, England, joined Leverkusen in a reported £20m deal in August has helped his new side undefeated at the top of the German Bundesliga after 11 Bundesliga matches and his speed, dribbling and delivery into dangerous areas would, in theory, give the Eagles an added dimension in attack.

Nigeria have succeeded in integrating England-born players like Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Joe Aribo and Ademola Lookman into the current squad, and it is expected that Tella will follow in the same vein.