Salzburg’s Karim Adeyemi explains ‘important’ reason for snubbing Chelsea move

Karim Adeyemi has opened up on his decision to snub a potential move to Chelsea and join Red Bull Salzburg in 2018.

Adeyemi, 19, is attracting plenty of interest in European football amid a string of impressive performances for Salzburg.

The striker was originally on Bayern Munich’s books as a youngster, only to eventually be released by his boyhood club over behavioural issues he has openly admitted.

Six years later Chelsea invited him to their Cobham training complex in the hope of signing him from German outfit SpVgg Unterhaching.

However, Adeyemi instead decided to reject the Blues’ advances in favour of a move to Salzburg.

While he remains determined to sign for a Champions League contender at some point in his career, the youngster says his decision to move to Austria was the best one for his development.

“First of all, it is important to me that I play regularly.” Adeyemi told Sport1.

“My focus is currently on the Austrian league. I am very happy that I have so much time here. I am fully focused on the task in Salzburg.

“I’m very happy that I can play here in Salzburg and that I get my minutes on a regular basis. Every moment on the pitch is precious.

“I want to play in a club where I feel comfortable. Of course I dream of a Champions League win. It would be great to play for a club that regularly competes to win the Champions League.

“But that's not what I have in mind right now. For me it is important that I develop myself further in Salzburg.”

Adeyemi impressed on loan at Salzburg’s feeder club, FC Liefering, in the second half of last season and has returned to become an important member of Jesse Marsch’s side.

The teenager is now being touted as a future star, but he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“It's not that difficult to stay on the grounded,” he said.

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“I haven't achieved anything yet, even though I'm now playing in the first division in Austria.

“But I find it quite normal that I do not answer. My parents and family support me a lot in this. My old club, Unterhaching, taught me that too. But even at Salzburg we players are kept on the ground. There is also no reason why I should rise above other people. Everybody is equal.”

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