Highly rated Ikorodu City youngster Musa Malik has taken another significant step in his promising career after travelling to Sweden to train with top-flight side AIK Fotboll with a view to securing a permanent move, Footy-Africa can exclusively confirm.
The 17-year-old winger, a product of the Ikorodu City academy, has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following a string of impressive displays for the Lagos-based club since making his first-team breakthrough.
A source within the Ikorodu City hierarchy confirmed the teenager’s trip to Sweden while dismissing claims that the club had received any official communication from Barcelona.
“Yes, he is currently in Sweden at the moment, and hopefully everything goes well for him there. We will always support him as a club,” the source told Footy-Africa. “The Barcelona rumours? No, I am not aware of them at all. Maybe something might come up, but as things stand, I am not aware of anything like that.”
The source described Malik as one of the club’s most exciting prospects and believes the next step in his career should prioritise his long-term development.
“Malik is a great talent and we are happy about his progress so far. Hopefully, he will achieve his true potential. He is a fast and explosive player who can operate on either wing or even behind the main striker.”
“There were a few teams interested in him, to be honest, but we believe he should join a club that will be best for his development.”
Malik’s performances have reportedly attracted interest from clubs across Europe, with teams in Spain, Belgium and Germany believed to have monitored his progress closely. Reports have also linked the youngster with Spanish giants Barcelona, although his current focus remains on impressing during his trial with AIK.
Valued at β¬75,000, Malik has scored two goals in 15 NPFL appearances for Ikorodu City this season and will now hope to do enough during his stay in Sweden to earn a move to AIK.
