Sevilla coach Garcia Pimienta has expressed bewilderment over Kelechi Iheanacho's struggles at the club, despite the Nigeria international displaying significant quality in training.
Iheanacho has struggled to find his footing at Sevilla since his arrival after completing his contract with Leicester City.
He has struggled to secure a spot in the starting line-up, with Pimienta opting to use Isaac Romero as the lone striker. In his place, the Spanish manager has relied on the younger Stanis Idumbo, leaving Iheanacho with limited playing time.
However, Pimienta has acknowledged that Iheanacho possesses potential, highlighting his impressive CV and training performances. Yet, his inability to replicate this form in matches has left the club puzzled.
Pimienta puzzled by Iheanacho's lack of matchday impact
In a recent interview with AS, Pimienta expressed his confusion over Kelechi Iheanacho's underwhelming performances despite showing quality in training.
“For whatever reason, Iheanacho hasn’t performed here at the level we all expect, including him. With his CV there are things that can’t be explained. Watching him train you say, ‘this kid has plenty of quality’.
“Overweight? He’s not, we’re strict about that. After the injury I don’t know, but before Christmas he was at his weight.,” he said.
The 28-year-old has featured 11 times for the Spanish club across all competitions, netting three goals, all of which came in the Copa del Rey. He has made seven starts, averaging 52 minutes per game.
The Super Eagles forward is contracted to Sevilla until June 2026, with the club holding an option to extend his deal by an additional 12 months.
However, he has recently been linked with Premier League clubs Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as Championship side Leeds United.
