Former defender Taribo West has told Score Nigeria that Italian mobsters are to blame for the failure of his 2000 move to AC Milan.
Former Nigeria defender Taribo West has claimed that the mafia put paid to his hopes of being a success at Serie A giants AC Milan.
West, 45, joined Milan from cross-town rivals Inter in early 2000, but after making just four appearances was loaned out to Premier League Derby County, and never played for the Rossoneri again.
Mafia did "anything in their powers" to get West out
And in an interview published in the Nigerian media on Sunday, he explained that Italian mobsters could not accept a player from Africa coming into the Milan team at the expense of defenders such as Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta, both Italian club legends.
"The mafia would do anything in their powers to make sure I was done away with at Milan," West told the media outlet Score Nigeria. "They cooked a vicious story in the press that I was injured in the desperate bid to send me out of Milan.
"The doctors were bribed to say I was injured, but it was a lie. They did that because they felt it was unthinkable for a African player to take the place of those [...] ageing defenders.
"Liverpool came with an offer, but at the end of the day, I had to settle for Derby County."
West, whose career also saw him play for clubs including Auxerre, Partizan Belgrade and Plymouth Argyle, won 42 caps for Nigeria between 1994 and 2005, and retired in 2008.
Ai_EmBliss
0
Says the Chelsea fan, your team looks like an amateur fourth division team this season, you’re below my rank to even talk to you.
Lol... Won a trophy in 8 years? HELL NO!
XPYNE63
0
Why they didn't do it to my country legend President George Menneh Weah. Africa's only black FIFA WORLD BEST PLAYER
Mapdensuyz
0
Why reveal it now?... Give us a break,we are moaning...
josiahk
0
This is not the Right time
when is the right time then
larryboss
0
stupid set of people
BlueBlackSnake
1
Dip in form and ageing players... Think before you speak, toddler.
Says the Chelsea fan, your team looks like an amateur fourth division team this season, you’re below my rank to even talk to you.
Ai_EmBliss
0
What about Lukaku, Sanchez, Ribery, De Ligt, Rebic, Theo Hernandez? Think before you speak, kid.
Dip in form and ageing players... Think before you speak, toddler.
BlueBlackSnake
0
this is a shame to the Italian league ,who is having d last laugh ,as the Italian league is no more exciting again ,no player wants to go ,let them eat their league ,racism will always kill that league,
What about Lukaku, Sanchez, Ribery, De Ligt, Rebic, Theo Hernandez? Think before you speak, kid.
dabablor
4
this is a shame to the Italian league ,who is having d last laugh ,as the Italian league is no more exciting again ,no player wants to go ,let them eat their league ,racism will always kill that league,
didadinors
5
Not the least surprised. Mafia involvement in Italian civil life has been a norm for a longtime. Well done for this disclosure & I'm proud of your career. Have no regrets!!.
JamesWalker
3
This is not the Right time