Obafemi Martins decision on future

Nigeria forward Obafemi Martins has no immediate plans to retire from football and will not rush to decide his next destination.‬

Martins 35, who played for English clubs Newcastle United and Birmingham City, has been searching for a new club since his recovery from a torn hamstring injury in May.‬

‪”I love football and I’m still passionate about it, so retirement thoughts haven’t crossed my mind,” Martins told the BBC.

‪”I cannot rush into the next club because at this stage I can make important decisions for myself and my body. ‬

‪”I want to enjoy the game and when I find the right place it will not be a difficult thing to do,” he added.‬

‪Martins scored 32 goals and provided nine assists in 59 appearances for his last club – Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua – before a season-ending injury in April 2018. ‬

‪The former Inter Milan and Levante forward moved to China from Major League Soccer (MLS) side Seattle Sounders in February 2016, and achieved domestic success in Asia.‬

‪He scored in both legs of the Chinese FA Cup final to help Shanghai Shenhua win the 2017 FA Cup. ‬

‪It is the first time since he began his professional career in 2001 that Martins has been without a club