At just 17, Honest Ahanor, after a €20 million move from Genoa to Atalanta, has immediately impressed, potentially catching the attention of national coach Gattuso. However, his future with the national team is tied to the resolution of his passport application, as despite being born and raised in Italy, he does not yet possess Italian citizenship.
Just one and three-quarter matches were enough for Atalanta`s defender, Honest Ahanor, to capture the attention of all Italy. It was a moment of life`s famous “sliding doors.” During an away game in Turin against Torino, when Hien left the field due to injury, Ahanor stepped in and immediately made his mark. Far from his 17 years, the player born in 2008 performed like a seasoned European-level defender. A week later, coach Juric confirmed Ahanor`s place on the left side of Atalanta`s defense at the Stadium against Juventus. The result was another monstrous performance. He covered, defended, pushed forward, and advanced. In short, he did it all, combining the exuberance of a highly talented youngster with a complete absence of arrogance. A mere 154 minutes on the field in Serie A this season were enough to spark hope among Italians, with some commenting on social media, “We`ve found a defender for the next 15 years.” But, alas, not yet…
A Citizenship Paradox
Honest Ahanor was born in Aversa, in the province of Caserta, on February 23, 2008. By all accounts, he is Italian. Yet, he does not possess Italian citizenship, likely because he was born to Nigerian parents. However, Italy is his home; he was born there—in Campania—and grew up there, moving to Genoa at just one year old before starting his journey as a footballer. Despite this, Ahanor has never played for any Italian national team, from the U21s downwards. No coach has been able to call him up because he is not officially considered Italian; he lacks a passport and thus cannot represent Italy. Before selling him to Atalanta for a record €20 million, Genoa had made persistent efforts to secure Italian citizenship for Ahanor. However, due to legal complexities, bureaucratic nuances, and lengthy processing times, his application remains pending. In the meantime, Honest might opt to play for Nigeria instead. Italy, beware…
