Versatile Gambian international Kalifa Manneh has moved a step up in his career by signing for one of Italy’s most historic clubs, Perugia Calcio, for the next three seasons.
Manneh, 22, who arrived in Italy as an unaccompanied migrant at 15, played with Catania in the Italian Serie C, an equivalent of the third tier, but refused to extend his contract beyond last season and parted ways with them at the end of June this year.
Playing predominantly as a left-sided front man, ‘Nyanch’ as he is called affectionately by his Scorpions teammates, Kalifa was linked with a move to Lamin Jallow’s former team Salernitana in Serie A and second division side Pordonone but Perugia, a club with 119 years’ history and a pedigree of several years in Serie A, beat off competition from the duo to land the Gambian who is normally used as a left-back by Tom Saintfiet.
“AC Perugia Calcio announces that it has acquired the sporting rights of the football player Kalifa Manneh. The striker has signed a contract until 30th June 2024,” Perugia, who finished first in Group B in Serie C, thus earning them a promotion to the second tier, said in a statement this afternoon.
“Born in The Gambia on 2nd September 1998, he made 110 appearances between Lega Pro and Coppa Italia for Catania and Carrarese, scoring a total of 7 goals. Called up on several occasions by The Gambia National Team, he made his debut with his National Team on 7th June, 2019 in the friendly against Guinea [Conakry in Morocco].”
Reacting to the news, Saintfiet, who gave Manneh his first ever international call-up and debut and has since invited him on many occasions, described Kalifa’s next step in his career as a nice feeling that every Gambian should be happy about.
“It is very nice to see young players like Kalifa Manneh, who has a big experience in Serie C in Italy with Catania now moving to a bigger club in Perugia with a huge tradition in Serie A and Serie B. So it’s very good for him and its good for Gambian football to see a player, who has the potential to show his skills in Serie C that he is now making a step forward,” the Belgian, who guided the Scorpions to its first ever AFCON qualification told www.gambiaff.org.
“I think we can all be happy and as a National Team coach really I’m very happy that he makes that move. Kalifa deserves that; he’s a very good boy, he’s a good player and with all the qualities of a bright future.”
