Mircea Lucescu has revealed the story of a bizarre behind-the-scenes tantrum by former Inter Milan defender Tareibo West.
The coach spoke to the Romanian media GSP.rorecalling how the Nigerian showed him a bible and told him he was the “Star of Africa” while insisting he had to start in a match.
Romanian coach Lucescu led Inter in the late 1990s.
Lucescu’s stay at San Siro lasted only seventeen matches. It was a tumultuous time for him and for the club.
And that overlapped with the fate that the former defender Taribo West had to the Nerazzurri.
West played for Inter between 1997 and 1999.
The former Nigeria international will next play for Nerazzurri rivals AC Milan. He also turned out for Derby County, Partizan and Plymouth Argyle.
Mirceau Lucescu reveals story of Taribo West’s bizarre tantrum at Inter
During his playing career for Inter, West gained a reputation for unpredictable behavior.
Additionally, the Nigerian is also deeply religious. He was open about his Christian faith while playing, and since hanging up his cleats, he has become a pastor.
And as former Inter coach Lucescu revealed, there was one occasion where West’s strange antics intersected with his religious beliefs.
There was an infamous moment where West threw his jersey after being replaced by Lucescu in a match against Vicenza.
The coach remembers: “He threw his shirt in my face. »
“And then the highlight was that his replacement, Silvestre, who went on to play for Manchester United, scored a goal afterwards.”
“The club had to withdraw him,” Lucescu looked back.
“I didn’t ask for anything. I left him alone.
But the Romanian coach then revealed there was another side to the story beyond West’s on-field tantrum.
“He called me into his room,” Lucescu said of West. “He opened a Bible for me.”
“He told me he was the star of Africa and that he had to play at all costs.”