On-loan West Ham striker Emmanuel Emenike has revealed that he turned down several offers from clubs in Europe and Asia for the chance to play under the stewardship of Slaven Bilic.
“It is a new league with new challenges. As a striker, I am ready to build up my confidence and face the challenges and the technical ability of the league. There is no doubt that this is the best league in the world. West Ham was not in the picture at first. I had several offers from Asia and some European clubs that I was considering before the West Ham offer came. This is coupled with the fact that they have a coach who I admire, Slaven Bilic,” Emenike told the Nation.
Emenike recently turned down a move to Shanghai Shenhua according to the Mirror. The Chinese club tabled an offer of €5.5 million which Emenike rejected in favour of a loan move to West Ham.
The daily paper goes onto say that Shenhua have maintained an interest in the 28-year-old and will return in the summer.
The Nigerian international also revealed that Bilic had been keen on him for a while and that he is really looking forward to working alongside the Hammers boss.
“He had always wanted me to play for him. However, sincerely, I do not know what he sees but I am relying on God to lead me and let me justify the confidence. I know it will be easy for me to work with him because we have been in two countries together and he must have seen something in me,” he added.
Bilic knew Emenike was his time coaching in Russia and Turkey but the powerful striker had always played for rival sides to the Croatian manager up until January.
Emenike played for Spartak Moscow when Bilic coached Lokomotiv and for Fenerbahce when the former Croatian national team manager was in charge of Besiktas.
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