Former star Luc Nilis has maintained that Cyriel Dessers, who was set to make his Super Eagles debut in March, is one of Belgium’s best centre-forward and so there is no reason the country ranked No 1 by FIFA should not call him up in September.
Nilis said Dessers deserves to be invited by the Red Devils of Belgium.
“I would always take you (Dessers) there (Belgium national team), with all due respect to Benteke and Batshuayi, but you are more number nine than them,” he told the 25-year-old striker in an interview.
“If you score (for new club Genk), the national team coach cannot look beyond you, Cyriel.”
In March, Nigeria named Dessers for a 2021 AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone.
However, Dessers, who has since signed for hometown club KRC Genk from Dutch side Heracles Almelo, has sensationally now left the door open as it concerns his international career.
“One of my best friends is a video analyst at the Red Devils, so I sometimes catch something, but I have not yet spoken to Roberto Martinez,” Dessers told Het Belang van Limburg.
“I now focus on Genk and make goals, the rest will come naturally. That has always been my motto.
“At the moment, the national team is not an issue, we will know more in September.
“Belgium? Nigeria? Maybe I will be summoned somewhere, maybe not.”
