He's the illegal stowaway who is now among the most coveted players in Europe: That's the story of Cagliari midfielder Godfred Donsah.

Tommaso Giulini, the Cagliari president, has already revealed the interest of Arsenal, while his agent, Oliver Arthur, has named "Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal" as among clubs to have made "official enquiries" just this year.

Still only 18, Donsah owes everything to his father, Twaku Tachi, who quit his job on the cocoa farms in Ghana to take a chance on travelling to Italy in 2007. Surviving the perilous sea journey, Twaku found employment in Foggia and Campania harvesting tomatoes, sending money home to his family, before landing a relatively plush job working in a warehouse in Como.

"Dad started it all in 2007 with a boat, though it was not a 'real' boat," recalls Donsah. "Italy was a mirage, he had the idea of a job, he wanted for my sisters to study. He was tired of working on cocoa farms, where my Mum and I also worked. Believe me, it was tough. Its hours in the sun, but the cocoa grows well. I assure you that ours is better than what you buy here (in Italy)!"

While his two sisters were dedicated to their studies, it was football that was Godfred's dream, having shown potential with Ghana's DC United Agogo academy. Twaku, now settled in Como, was able to organise trials for the 15 year-old Godfred with the local club and it was there when he first made contact with Sean Sogliano.

Now running the football department at Hellas Verona, Sogliano was convinced he was seeing something special when spotting Donsah trialing with Como. He was working out of the front office of Palermo at the time and immediately offered Donsah a place in their academy and organised a new job for Twaku in the city.

It was with Palermo when Donsah was befriended by Ghana international Afriyie Acquah, now playing with Sampdoria on-loan from Hoffenheim.

"I have so much to thank Acquah. He is my best friend. In Palermo he helped me, gave me some money and gave me my first boots. I used to play barefoot as we didn't have many pairs of shoes," smiles Donsah.

"Let's say that when you play and you are 22, you have some extra pairs of boots to share with others!"

But then disaster struck, with Donsah's progress inside the Palermo academy coming to the attention of local authorities.

"I was 15 and training with the first team. Fabrizio Miccoli asked me how old I was."

Discovered as still being illegal, both Godfred and Twaku were sent home. The coming year was spent getting the right papers organised so they could return.

By this time, Sogliano had left Palermo for Hellas Verona - and he had not forgotten Donsah.

"I had the luck of meeting Sean Sogliano. I will never stop thanking him. He kept in touch and when I had the proper papers took me to Verona."

At Verona, Donsah, still 16, began with the Primavera team before making his Serie A debut under coach Andrea Mandorlini.

That summer, Donsah was again on the move - to Zdenek Zeman's Cagliari.

The former AS Roma coach had identified Donsah as a 'must have' signing after the youngster's performance for Verona in the 2013 Viareggio tournament. He scored four goals from midfield in front of a watching Zeman, along with scouts from Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

But it was Cagliari which acted swiftest, with a loan deal agreed with Verona, including a €2.5 million option.

"In Cagliari, I've found the right stage," says Donsah. "They have offered me a great opportunity.

"It is the right the club for young players to emerge. Here, they help improve young players."

Giulini agrees and despite the potential of a Premier League auction driving up Donsah's price, is willing to hold his nerve.

"I want to keep him here at least another year," says the Cagliari president.

"Cagliari must stay up so to continue to develop these young people. For his career path, it is better to stay here one more season."

As for the player, himself, Donsah's focus is now on repaying his father for the courage he showed in search for a better life for himself and his family.

"I've never lacked the desire. We Africans, we never relax," he says.

"I know it's now my job to make sure the family is settled and eats."