Kenneth Heiner-Møller, former coach of Denmark’s senior women’s team and current head of talent at the Danish Football Association, has spoken about the international future of Manchester United’s rising star, Chido Obi-Martin.
The 17-year-old striker, eligible to represent Denmark, Nigeria, and England, has become one of the most talked-about prospects at Manchester United’s academy after scoring five goals in a single half against Liverpool’s youth team.
Born in Glostrup, Denmark, to a Danish mother and Nigerian father, Obi-Martin has represented both Denmark and England at youth levels, adding intrigue to his national team choice.
Despite his eligibility for multiple nations, the forward has expressed a strong connection to Denmark, highlighting his comfort with the language and culture and the close friendships he has within the Danish setup.
“I was born in Denmark, I have better friends in Denmark and I’m just really happy to play for Denmark. In Denmark, I have better teammates. It is easier to speak the language because I have lived longer in Denmark, so it just makes better sense. I hope to be able to play in the Danish national team for a long time, so I hope it’s just Denmark,” Obi-Martin said in an earlier interview.
Heiner-Møller emphasized that Denmark will not rush to cap-tie the young talent, opting instead for a respectful approach that prioritizes mutual agreement and long-term commitment.
“I hope that Chido will play for the Danish A national team, but I can guarantee you that he will never, ever be selected for the A national team only with the aim of tying him to Denmark.”
He stressed that Denmark values genuine desire over short-term gains and will not pressure players with multiple citizenships into decisions they may regret.
Acknowledging the competitive nature of international football, Heiner-Møller added that Denmark, unlike a club, cannot offer material incentives to sway a player’s decision but can only present the opportunity to wear the Danish shirt.
“That would be very sad. If we were a club, we could offer him a bigger contract, better terms, a bigger car and a villa, but we are not a club, so we can only offer him to play in a Danish national team shirt. There is not much we can do,” he said.
He expressed optimism that Obi-Martin would choose Denmark but recognized the striker’s right to explore his options and ultimately make the decision that feels right for him.
Obi-Martin’s performances for Manchester United this season have solidified his reputation as a future star, with five goals in five U-18 Premier League appearances.
“I am well aware that there are some other countries that look at this sort of thing differently, and there will probably be some who think that it is unambitious and frivolous of us, but there are just other things that count more for us.”
“We are not going to bind anyone to a national team that they do not want to represent in the long term. I hope that Chido and everyone else who has multiple citizenships will choose what they think is right, and I mean that completely sincerely.”
His choice of national team will undoubtedly be one of the most closely watched decisions in football, given his potential to make an impact on the international stage.
