Taribo West has explained how he sensationally almost ended up a Liverpool player due to the intervention of the Mafia.
The former Nigerian international enjoyed a journeyman-like career during his playing days, but was perhaps best known for his time in Italy.
West signed for Inter Milan after a successful four-year stint at Auxerre, winning the UEFA Cup in a team that boasted the talent of Brazilian striker Ronaldo.
He was soon sold onto their rivals AC Milan in a shock move, which was where West claims his problems with the notorious criminal organisation started.
“The Mafia would do anything in their powers to make sure I was done away with at Milan,” West told Score Nigeria (via FourFourTwo ).
(Image: EMPICS Sports Photo Agency)
West was behind legends Paulo Maldini, Franco Baresi and Alejandro Costacurta in the Milan pecking order – which was a tall ask in itself to get into the team.
But the Mafia soon made their feelings known.
“They cooked a vicious story in the press that I was injured in the desperate bid to send me out of Milan,” he added.
“The doctors were bribed to say I was injured, but it was a lie. They did that because they felt it was unthinkable for an African player to take the place of those three ageing defenders.”
(Image: EMPICS Sports Photo Agency)
West only went on to make four appearances for the Rossoneri as they swiftly moved him on.
“Liverpool came with an offer, but at the end of the day I had to settle for Derby County,” West said.
Gerard Houllier was Liverpool’s manager at the time, and was known to be a keen admirer of West, but was signed off with illness around the time West became available.
(Image: PA)
Assistant manager Phil Thompson denied claims West made at the time when he said: “But for (Gerard) Houllier’s illness, I would have signed a four-year contract with Liverpool this week. Everything has been sorted out and all I needed to do was bring down my stuff from Milan.”
West made a number of appearances for Derby during a loan spell, before sealing a move to FC Kaiserslautern.
He later returned to English football with Plymouth Argyle in 2005 but played just five times.
