As Watford failed to shed their ‘yo-yo club’ reputation last season, relegated for the second time in the space of just two years, Maduka Okoye’s prayers went unanswered.
“My management had been in close contact with several Premier League clubs since the beginning of the year,” said the Nigeria international; explaining his £5 million move from Sparta Rotterdam to Vicarage Road in January 2021.
“(Including) Southampton and Crystal Palace.
“Watford, with (owner) Gino Pozzo, simply convinced me. I will fight for (my place) and give everything to be the number one. I believe in the quality of the team and I pray and hope they stay in (the Premier League).”
With the benefit of hindsight, it’d be interesting to see whether Okoye would still have signed on the dotted line at Waford, had he known how the 2021/22 campaign would turn out for the Hornets. Because, while Crystal Palace and Southampton are still very much top-flight sides (well, for now at least) Okoye finds himself warming the bench at Luton rather Liverpool. Middlesbrough rather than Manchester City.
Maduke Okoye snubbed Crystal Palace and Southampton for Watford
The German-born 23-year-old has not started a single Championship game this season. In fact, Okoye’s only Watford appearance so far came in a 2-0 EFL Cup defeat to third-tier MK Dons. For a man who was dreaming of Premier League football when putting pen to paper with the Hornets, his time in Hertfordshire certainly isn’t going how the former Eredivisie glovesman had imagined.
Another excellent Daniel Bachmann display during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bristol City did little for Okoye’s hopes of securing a starting spot any time soon either; the one-time Manchester United target saving Slaven Bilic’s visitors from defeat at Ashton Gate.
“The player wanted this great opportunity (at Watford) so we decided on it,” explained Okoye’s agent, Wessel Weezenberg. “He is ready for Premier League football.”
Remind us; what is it John Steinbeck said about ‘best laid plans’?
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