“God Told Me I Have to Play”: Italian Legend Recalls Taribo’s Bold Clash With His Coach
- Italian legend Christian Vieri shared how Super Eagles icon Taribo West once challenged his former manager for a spot in the starting lineup
- West played alongside some of the greatest players in the world, including Ronaldo, Diego Simeone, Javier Zanetti, and many others
- The ex-international has been caught in the web of controversy following his statement at Peter Rufai's burial
Super Eagles legend Taribo West is undoubtedly one of the greatest defenders to have come out of Africa.
West rose from the Nigerian football league in the late 80s and broke straight into the first team of Auxerre in the Ligue 1, winning the Coupe de France in his first season and two years later.
The bullish defender made a grand entry to the Italian Serie A, where he played alongside some of the best football players of his time.
Source: Getty Images
Vieri shares West conversation with Italian coach
Inter Milan legend Christian Vieri has opened up on Taribo West's conversation with the legendary Marcello Lippi.
In a throwback video on X, the Italy legend said the former Super Eagles player told the manager that God told him to play a match.
The former Lazio star explained that Lippi had dropped West from the starting XI due to the change in formation, per This Day. He said:
“It was Saturday morning, we were all standing around and Lippi told us the line-up so we could go out and get the practice session in,” Vieri said in an Instagram live.
“Taribo West stood up and with this big deep voice said: ‘Mister! God told me that I have to play!"
Source: Getty Images
Lippi answers Taribo
According to African Football, Vieri recounted how World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi dismissed Taribo West’s claim of receiving a message from God.
Vieri said Lippi told West that he hadn’t heard from God himself.
“I was already doubled up laughing before Lippi gave his reply: ‘That’s strange, He didn’t mention it to me.’ I nearly wet myself.”
Taribo joined Inter Milan from Auxerre in 1997 for £10.24 million, becoming the world’s most expensive defender at the time. He made 64 appearances for the Nerazzurri, scoring two goals, one of them against Atalanta.
The Super Eagles legend became the first Nigerian to win the UEFA Cup in 1997/98 before making a shocking move to AC Milan, where he became one of Africa's highest-paid players, scoring his only goal for Milan in a 4–0 victory over Udinese.
After his sojourn in Italy, the Olympic gold medallist played for Derby County, FC Kaiserslautern, Partizan, Al-Arabi, Plymouth Argyle, and ended his career at Paykan.
Taribo West opened a church in 2014, years after his retirement, the Shelter in the Storm Miracle Ministries of All Nations in Lagos.
Journalist slams Taribo West
Legit.ng reported that ace journalist Godwin Enakhena slammed Taribo West after the former Super Eagles defender criticised the government at Peter Rufai's burial.
Enakhena hit back at his former footballer, questioning how much he gave, while listing those who contributed financially to the bereaved family.
Source: Legit.ng
