Mircea Lucescu has revealed the backstory of a bizarre behind-the-scenes tantrum from former defender Tareibo West at Inter Milan.
The coach spoke to Romanian outlet GSP.ro, recalling how the Nigerian showed him a bible and told him that he was the “Star of Africa” while insisting that he had to start in a match.
Romanian coach Lucescu had a stint in charge of Inter during the late 1990s.
Lucescu’s time at the San Siro only lasted seventeen matches. It was a tumultuous period for him and for the club.
And it overlapped with the spell that former defender Taribo West had at the Nerazzurri.
West played for Inter between 1997 and 1999.
The former Nigerian international would then go on to play for the Nerazzurri’s city rivals AC Milan. He also turned up for the likes of Derby County, Partizan, and Plymouth Argyle.
Mirceau Lucescu Reveals Backstory On Bizarre Taribo West Tantrum At Inter
During his time as an Inter player, West did gain a reputation for unpredictable behaviour.
Moreover, the Nigerian is also devoutly religious. He was open about his Christian faith during his playing days, and since hanging up his boots has become a pastor.
And as former Inter coach Lucescu has revealed, there was one occasion where West’s odd antics intersected with his religious beliefs.
There was an infamous moment where West threw off his shirt after being substituted off by Lucescu in a match against Vicenza.
The coach recalled, “He threw his shirt in my face.”
“And then the highlight was that his replacement, Silvestre, who later played for Manchester United, scored a goal after that.”
“The club had to remove him,” Lucescu looked back.
“I didn’t ask for anything. I left him alone.”
But then the Romanian coach revealed that there was another aspect to the story beyond the on-pitch tantrum from West.
“He called me to his room,” Lucescu said of West. “He opened up a Bible for me.”
“He told me that he was the Star of Africa, and that he had to play at all costs.”
