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Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he is open to listening to Alex Iwobi when it comes to the Nigerian international’s preferred position.
Iwobi notably posted an update on Instagram in which he revealed he is looking forward to playing for Nigeria in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, especially because he will be able to play in a more natural attacking midfielder role.
The former Arsenal player has been used primarily as a wingback or full-back by Ancelotti for Everton this season – a radically different position compared to the number 10 or wide attacking roles he plays for Gernot Rohr in the colours of the Super Eagles.
Iwobi has performed well in unfamiliar roles for the Toffees, but the club’s manager says he is nonetheless open to discussing this issue with the player – much as he did years ago when he had Andrea Pirlo under his tutelage at Milan.
“I read the post that he did and I want to speak of course, I would like to know him, his preferred position, because usually I want to put a player on the pitch where they are comfortable to play not where they are uncomfortable to play,” Ancelotti is quoted by All Nigeria Soccer.
“And if he has an idea of where he prefers to play I have to know, I want to know, I am delighted to know his preferred position, I put him in his preferred position for sure, no doubt.
“I’m going to tell him, ‘Tell me I am your manager, tell me where you prefer to play’.
“When I thought to put Pirlo as a holding midfielder I asked him, ‘Do you like to play there or not?’ ‘Yes’, he said to me. ‘I’d love to play there!’ So I put him there.
“If he wants to play number 10 or number 9 I’ll put him there, no problem. I can adapt the system.”
Iwobi will hope to star for Everton when they host Burnley at Goodison Park this evening.
