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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Mariga linked with move to EPL side Fulham

Football

By - Gilbert Wandera | Dec 27, 2012

By Gilbert Wandera

Over the past weeks, there have been numerous reports linking Celtic midfielder Victor Mugubi Wanyama to English Premier League (EPL) side Manchester United.

Going by the reports emanating from the United Kingdom, the former EPL champions are expected to make a bid for the Kenyan international next month.

Now Wanyama’s brother McDonald Mariga is reported to have attracted the interest of another EPL side Fulham.

Reports in the Daily Mail over Christmas say Fulham are preparing a bid for the Kenyan international who currently turns out for Italian giants Inter Milan.

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Mariga has struggled to find a place in the Inter Milan line-up being reduced to a second half substitute.

He has so far made only one appearance this season after suffering a near career ending injury that kept him out for the last eight months. Previously, he was on loan at Real Sociedad in Spain and Parma before returning to Milan.

Mariga became the first Kenyan player to play in the Italian Serie ‘A’ a feat he achieved five years ago when he joined Parma.

After an impressive stint at Parma he attracted interest from Manchester City in 2010, but luck of a work permit on account of Kenya’s poor ranking at the time curtailed his move to the EPL champions.

With Mariga’s contract running out next summer, it is normal that he would want to move elsewhere to get more playing time and resurrect his international career.

Sources close to the player, however, insist that he was happy at Inter Milan despite not getting playing time from coach Andrea Stramaccioni.

“He is comfortable at Inter Milan. The money is good and believes no club in Italy can match it at this time and so he would not mind staying longer,” said the source.

Mariga’s agent Lorenzo Marchesi also supports this view insisting that the player will get more playing time next season.

“Inter are willing to wait for Mariga to recover his form after a long injury. They believe in him and the coach has promised him more playing time,” he said.

Mariga is currently on holiday in Nairobi but we could not reach him for comment. In October he was recalled for national duty with Harambee Stars but declined to honour the call as he was yet to fully recover.

His brother Wanyama has been having a great time with Celtic in the Scottish league and remains on the radar of Manchester United and other top English clubs.

Wanyama featured for Celtic in the Champions League scoring against giants Barcelona in a 2-1 win for his club.