Gyasi: Hudson-Odoi should follow his heart

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Jul 04, 2021. 09:00

Former Ghana international Edwin Gyasi has advised Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi to follow his heart in regards to his national team future.

The 20-year-old winger has represented England’s senior national team three times, but remains eligible to switch allegiance to the Black Stars.

And Ghana appear very keen on recruiting the London-born player, with the country’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, even calling on his sports minister and the Ghana FA to bring Hudson-Odoi on board.

“Amongst others, I urged the Minister for Youth and Sports to explore the possibility of having Callum switch nationality and play for the Black Stars,” the president posted on Facebook.

Meanwhile, Gyasi, who was born in the Netherlands but made five appearances for the Ghana national team, has urged Hudson-Odoi not to let outside pressure and interference affect his decision.

“I will advise him [Hudson-Odoi] to follow his heart rather than bowing to public pressure at this critical moment in his career,” he told Kasapa FM, as quoted by Ghana Web.

After being left out of England’s squad for the ongoing Euro 2020 tournament, the winger has hinted that he would consider a change of nationality.

“When they obviously gave me the opportunity to come, I was in the country already. It’s something that I already had in my mind, set on already playing for England,” Hudson-Odoi is quoted by Goal.

“So it was the obvious thing, choosing Ghana or England, and at the end of the day, I said I always had the right people around me who always advise me – what’s right, what’s wrong. England came and I said ‘Yeah, let me go and play for my country’.

“But I said Ghana is my home as well, so we’ll see, we’ll see. You’ll never know.”