By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigerian forward Chrisantus Uche’s transfer deadline day move to Crystal Palace has sparked anger among Getafe supporters, with frustrated fans confronting club president Ángel Torres at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez to demand answers.
The Nigerian midfielder sealed a season-long loan to Palace that includes an obligation to buy for €20 million next summer. The deal, completed despite Uche being regarded as one of the club’s most valuable assets, was driven by Getafe’s ongoing financial constraints and player registration challenges.
Addressing the supporters’ outburst, Torres sought to calm tensions while acknowledging the disappointment: “We’ve registered everyone, the seven that were there,” said the president, as per Marca.
“We have to keep working,” he continued, after spending more than twelve hours at the stadium where several fans demanded reinforcements following Uche’s departure.
“Of course it’s sad, but life goes on,” Torres added when asked directly about the Nigerian’s exit, which he confirmed was forced by the club’s Financial Fair Play situation.
“Keep calm and trust in me,” he concluded.
Once finalized, the move will become the most expensive sale in Getafe’s history, eclipsing the €18 million transfer of Marc Cucurella to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021.
Uche’s departure leaves a gap in José Bordalás’ squad as the Madrid-based club looks to balance its books while staying competitive in LaLiga.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
