“Tony Adams said he’s 48” – Harry Redknapp reveals details of Kanu’s Portsmouth move

Kanu Nwankwo shone brightly at Portsmouth and helped them win the FA Cup in 2008 however the story of his switch to Pompey stays humorous and evergreen one

Harry Redknapp, the supervisor answerable for signing the Nigerian to Portsmouth has revealed the backstory of Kanu’s transfer to the membership.

Redknapp on Talksport narrated how Arsenal legend, Tony Adams who labored at Portsmouth on the time discouraged him from signing the Nigerian, saying he’s already 48 years outdated.

“Kanu… we had accidents at first of the yr, enjoying Blackburn within the first recreation of the season. I haven’t obtained a match striker on the books. Wanting by means of the e book and looking for someone. Instantly I sit with Tony Adams, what about Kanu? He went ‘Harry, he’s 48,” Redknapp narrated.

“I mentioned whoa, he mentioned no (I shouldn’t signal him). I spoke to the physios at Arsenal, they mentioned he’s match, I noticed him at West Brom final yr, I noticed him. He did it proper. I noticed him twice and he performed properly. He went naah. Anyway we undergo the e book and may’t discover anyone. Finally I ring up Kanu. ‘Kanu do you wanna play this yr? He mentioned he’d like to play. ‘Do you wanna come to Portsmouth?’ Yeah. I instructed him come down tomorrow Monday morning and we will do a deal that he can come down and play. Incredible, Monday morning he turns up, I say we have now a reserve recreation this afternoon, I’m gonna play you within the reserve recreation in opposition to Cardiff. It’s not a trial, it’s simply to ensure your health is sweet and also you’re prepared. Get you match for the massive recreation on Saturday in opposition to Blackburn.”

“I mentioned he can have his medical after the sport. Don’t do the medicals. Do it after the sport. If it’s garbage, we’re following the medicals. Performs within the recreation, two targets, two worldies and we signal him,”

Kanu went on to begin the season with two braces in opposition to Blackburn and Middlesbrough respectively and in addition gained the FA Cup with them.

”In opposition to Blackburn, I put him on the bench, he got here on within the second half and scores two targets, we win 3-0. In opposition to Middlesbrough, he begins and scores two targets, we win 4-0. We get again to the airport at Southampton Airport and he’s sitting by his baggage and all of the sudden his physique went in spasms. He can’t transfer. We elevate him up, put him on a wheel chair and wheel him to his automotive and drive him dwelling.

”5 years later, he nonetheless performed for Portsmouth, and scored the objective within the semifinal of the FA Cup and the one objective within the remaining. 5 years later he’s nonetheless enjoying for Portsmouth. If Tony was appropriate, he’d then be 53 in his remaining yr.”