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Cape Town - Kelechi Iheanacho reportedly looks set to snub Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in order to impress new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.
The 19-year-old striker was included in the Super Eagles' provisional 35-man squad for the Rio Games set to take place In August, alongside fellow Premier League players Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi and John Obi Mikel.
If Iheanacho does take part in Brazil, he would subsequently miss City's pre-season preparations in Asia and the first few weeks of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach's reign.
Should the Nigerians progress beyond the group stages, he would be absent for the start of the 2016/17 Premier League season as well.
Iheanacho has expressed an eagerness to learn from Guardiola and highlighted the Spaniard's great record in working with young talent.
"It's up to the club and country to decide what is going to happen," the teenager told BT Sport. "If your country wants you to play, you really want to go and play as well. (But) It's not my intention to decide.
"He's [Guardiola] a great manager. He's coached great teams - Barcelona, Bayern Munich. He's done great for all the teams. I watched Barcelona. He's a great manager, they played really well, were a great team and won trophies.
"He has a good record working with young players I think and I don't think this will be an exception. He's going to prepare the young players and they're going to improve."
