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On-form Nigerian star attracted praise from a former player of his club.
Tolu Arokodare’s incredible form for Club Brugge has now gone unnoticed, as a former striker of the club Patrick Goots, hailed him for his remarkable turnaround.
The 24-year-old was signed at the start of 2023 to replace another Nigerian striker, Paul Onuachu, who left for Southampton.
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Injury blighted his debut season, and he only managed 11 appearances, scoring twice. Last season was a bit better, as he scored 12 times in 39 games.
This season, however, he has been flying and has scored 13 goals in 20 games and has aided De Smurfen’s title charge as they currently sit at the top of the log.
What Goots said
About a week after Club Brugge’s coach hailed Tolu for his transformation, he earned plaudits from a former player from the club.
“I certainly wasn’t overwhelmed then. He had to deal with a lot of injuries. He was never really fully fit,” Goots started. “I didn’t expect Tolu to explode this year. No, but neither did Genk. He couldn’t handle 90 minutes back then. He was a different Tolu.
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“Now, he’s a rock in the surf, who doesn’t shy away from a duel and who you don’t easily push off the ball. He’s changed in every way. He already had the qualities before, but now he’s physically in tip-top shape.
“He is also of great value in combinations with Steuckers, for example. Tolu is the point of contact who has to pass the ball, which allows the entire team to advance.”
Meanwhile, with Arokodare's form, a Super Eagles call-up is not far away. While the Super Eagles have an abundance in the striker department, the Festac-born forward offers a unique profile.
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