Hong Kong striker Udebuluzor set for move after revealing ‘toxic relationship’ with club, hopes for leading World Cup role
- Hong Kong face Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Tuesday, following 2-0 home defeat by same opponents last week
- Michael Udebuluzor hoping for a start in the World Cup qualifier after a lively cameo off the bench at Mong Kok Stadium
Hong Kong striker Michael Udebuluzor says he is in a “toxic relationship” with his club, Ingolstadt 04, and says the irretrievable fallout has affected his form at the recent Asian Cup finals.
Udebuluzor will leave the German outfit when his contract expires in June, after concluding “they have no faith in me”.
The 19-year-old looked sharp after replacing fellow centre-forward Matt Orr in the second half of Thursday’s World Cup qualifying defeat by Uzbekistan at Mong Kok Stadium.
Udebuluzor attributed his improved condition since the January Asian tournament in Qatar, where he was “low on form and confidence”, to regular action since training and playing exclusively with Ingolstadt’s second stringers. His three senior appearances this term amount to six minutes on the field, and he has not featured for Ingolstadt’s first team since December 2.
“The situation is simple: my contract is running out, and I never wanted to extend,” Udebuluzor told the Post from Uzbekistan, where Hong Kong are preparing for the return match on Tuesday.
“It is a toxic relationship between me and the club. I never felt I was at my best in that club, so obviously I want to leave.”
