Police have moved to calm fears for Ugandan-born midfielder Savio Nsereko, who has been missing for a week. After his club Juve Stabia in the Italian Serie B confirmed Thursday he had not been seen for a week, police claimed they were sure he has left the country.
The Germany youth international disappeared after playing just one match for his new club and a spokesman confirmed to AFP they had informed the police. “We haven’t heard from Savio for a week. His mother and sister are very worried, and so are we. We hope to find him,” said a Juve Stabia spokesman.
The last trace of Nsereko was when he sent coach Piero Braglia a text message last Thursday explaining he would not be attending training for personal reasons. But now local police in Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples, say he “has certainly left the country to go abroad” while describing it as “a voluntary disappearance.”
Disappearing acts
Nsereko, who has a girlfriend in Bulgaria, is believed to have headed to England. This is not the first time Nsereko, who is on loan from Fiorentina, has gone missing. He also went missing for a week while on loan at German second division side TSV 1860 Munich last season, leading to his loan agreement being terminated.
He was later found at his sister’s home. Although born in Uganda, Nsereko came up through the youth ranks in Germany with 1860 Munich and has represented the European nation at under-19 and under-20 levels.
However, Uganda are trying to convince him to play senior football for the country of his birth. He started his senior professional career with Brescia in Italy after being signed as a 16-year-old. There followed a move to West Ham in the English Premier League before he went to Fiorentina in 2009.
Savio Nsereko, professional footballer
Age. 22
Background. He was born in Kampala and started his career at 1860 Munich. He was signed by Brescia in the summer of 2005, aged 16, the minimum age limit allowed by Fifa for international transfer in EU.
International career. On 26 January 2009, Nsereko signed for West Ham United for an undisclosed fee, thought to have been in the region of £9 million on a four-and-a-half year contract. His Premier League came on 28 January 2009 in West Ham’s 2–0 home win against Hull City.
Loan move. He failed to settle at West Ham, making just one start and failing to score in any of his 10 appearances. He was sold to Fiorentina for an undisclosed fee.
