Kike’s Boro exit due to lack of opportunity

Middlesbrough Manager Aitor Karanka has admitted that Spanish striker Kike was allowed to leave the club due to the exceptional competition for starting places in Boro’s attack according to Gazette Live.

The 25 year old sealed a deadline day move to ambitious Spanish club Eibar although the striker cannot play for his new club until next season after registration paperwork was not submitted in time.

Kike hit 16 goals in 75 appearances for Boro but the club’s £9 million deadline day signing of in demand striker Jordan Rhodes from Blackburn Rovers sealed the player’s fate. With David Nugent, Jordan Rhodes, Christhian Stuani and Enrique Sola all battling for starting spots Kike faced a tough task to become a regular starter in the side.

Following the striker’s Teesside exit former Manager Karanka paid tribute to his forward.

“He played here for 75 games, played against Manchester United for example, so played some good games for us,” said the Boro boss when speaking to Gazette Live.

“But again, the pressure was coming and good players were arriving. At the beginning when I arrived (at Boro) our striker was Curtis Main, and now our strikers are David Nugent and Jordan Rhodes.”

“The team is improving and you have to show everyone how good you are. At the minute, for me, Nugent and Rhodes are better than Kike.”

“But I have to say thank you to him as his attitude and his behaviour have been perfect for me.”

Back to back 1-0 league defeats have seen Boro drop to second in the Championship table and Karanka will be looking for his side to bounce back with victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

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