World’s best Under-17 footballer, Golden Eaglets of Nigeria’s talismanic midfielder Kelechi Iheanacho, has reportedly opted out of a transfer to English Premiership giants Manchester City because he will only get cash in January 2015.

“The MVP of the recent U17 World Cup in the UAE signed a contract with City at the weekend after he passed a medical in Madrid, Spain, with City chief scout Gary Worthington in attendance,” reports mtnfootball.com, adding:

“However, both he and his father, James Iheanacho, who accompanied him to Spain, were shocked to learn that they will not be paid any cash by the EPL side till January 2015, when the youngster would have clocked 18.

“This has now forced the Iheanachos to explore the possibilities of the boy opting for Portuguese champions FC Porto, who have also tabled an offer for him and were at a time favourites to land the highly-promising forward.”

The report said that in the Man City contract Iheanacho was to get 250,000 pounds, his father 350,000 pounds, while the Taye Academy in Owerri would receive 300,000 pounds.

Iheanacho’s mentor at Taye Academy, Kennedy Echenwere, said the Eaglets star is currently in Lagos and has decided to follow his heart and join FC Porto.

“Kelechi is in Lagos now, he has decided to join FC Porto and not Manchester City,” Echenwere told Brila FM on Tuesday.

However, Iheanacho senior said the family are still trying to persuade the youngster to join Manchester City.

News Express recalls that Iheanacho senior withdrew Kelechi from the home-based Super Eagles camp to enable him go for the Man City contract talks, claiming that God revealed after the family’s prayers that Kelechi should join the Premiership title contenders.

•Photo shows Kelechi Iheanacho.