Will Osula reveals surprise friendship with former Newcastle United transfer target
Newcastle United explored a move for the midfielder before signing Sandro Tonali.
Will Osula has opened up on his close friendship with a former Newcastle United transfer target.
Twelve months before Osula joined from Sheffield United in August 2024 for £15million, the Magpies explored a move for his close pal Felix Nmecha.
The midfielder was at Wolfsburg at the time but as it happened, the German international moved to Borussia Dortmund and United pressed ahead with signing Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55million.
Ironically, Eddie Howe’s side came face-to-face with Nmecha a few months later as he scored the only goal of the game in Dortmund’s 1-0 Champions League win at St James’ Park.
Will Osula reveals close friendship with former NUFC target
Nmecha was born in Hamburg but moved to Manchester at a young age, and it was during his youth that he met Osula, who, like Nmecha, moved to England from Copenhagen in Denmark.
The pair played at the same centre in Wythenshawe before moving into their respective. Nmecha was scouted by Manchester City, while Osula was picked up by Sheffield United.
“I moved to Manchester when I was 12 years old, and that’s when me and my family moved abroad,” Osula told the club’s official matchday programme.”We lived in Wythenshawe before I joined Sheffield United’s academy and then I moved to Sheffield for football to live in digs.
“There’s a place called the Civic Centre in Wythenshawe, every Saturday I used to go there and play Futsal. I was there. Felix Nmecha was there, we always gathered every Saturday and play five vs five indoors, which was lovely. I was around 13 or 14.
“I’ve not played against Felix yet, he’s at Borussia Dortmund. Whenever I see him, it’s a nice moment and it will be if I play him. It’s nice that players can come up from an area like Wythenshawe and help the families and people around them.”
Will Osula opens up on viral Man Utd post
Osula classes Manchester as one of his two ‘homes’ - Copenhagen being the other, which is why scoring the winner in a Premier League match against Manchester United last month may have felt extra special.
Certainly, it came back to haunt the Red Devils after their post about Osula 12 years ago resurfaced.
Eleven-year-old Osula was crowned the winner of the MU Soccer Schools World Skills Final on the Old Trafford pitch back in November 2014 and was presented with his award by legends Bryan Robson and Gary Pallister.
“I remember it well,” Osula added. “There was a skills competition in Denmark. I won that and there were a few others in Scandinavia. They selected the best ones from there and brought everyone from around the world to come and prove your skills.
“There was dribbling, practices, and at the end of the day they voted and thought I was the winner, which was a proud moment for me as well. They handed me the award at half-time of a game at Old Trafford, so it’s a memory that lasts with me.
“It’s funny that it came back [after scoring] against Manchester United.”
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