“Oliseh is a Roma player” – How Juventus beat Serie A rivals AS Roma to Sunday Oliseh’s signing in deft last-minute manoeuvre

By the beginning of the yr 1999, Sunday Oliseh was already established as probably the greatest midfielders not solely in Africa but in addition on the earth.

Oliseh was solely 20 when he helped Nigeria win a second Africa Cup of Nations title at Tunisia ’94.

Later that yr, the younger midfielder was additionally a distinguished member of the Tremendous Eagles squad that reached the second spherical of the FIFA World Cup in the US.

Much more impressively, Oliseh performed a key position as Nigeria’s Dream Workforce powered to Africa’s first-ever gold medal on the Olympic Video games in 1996.

And after serving to Nigeria attain the knockout section of France ’98 and Ajax win consecutive league titles in 1998 and 1999, there weren’t many gamers extra extremely rated than the Delta State-born midfielder.

Oliseh even made it to the ultimate 50 shortlist for the 1998 Golden Ball award.

Roma, favourites for Oliseh

It was, subsequently, no shock that he was one of the vital in-demand gamers heading to the 1999 summer time switch window.

Nonetheless, AS Roma had been the main candidate to finish the signing of the then-25-year-old.

The Giallorossi had been placing collectively a formidable crew below the steering of revered Italian supervisor Fabio Capello and, Oliseh was to be the ultimate piece of their jigsaw.

Roma firmed up their curiosity and supplied €10 million for the Nigeria worldwide.

An enormous determine on the time, the charge would make Oliseh Nigeria’s joint-second costliest signing in historical past alongside George Finidi and simply behind Austin Okocha (€12.40 million).

Curiously, Ajax accepted the supply, leaving it to Roma to thrash out private phrases with the participant.

Juventus beat Italian rivals to Oliseh 

However about this time, Juventus’ late curiosity in Oliseh surfaced.

The Bianconeri had been trying to find an inheritor to growing older midfielder Didier Deschamps and had recognized Oliseh as the right substitute for the Frenchman.

However Roma had been so satisfied they’d a deal for Oliseh sealed up that the President, Franco Sensi, informed the press:

“Oliseh is a Roma participant. We’re already executed with Ajax. He arrives in a membership that has nothing lower than Juve.”

Unknown to Roma, Juventus had matched and bettered their rivals’ supply to Ajax and had supplied extra in wage to Oliseh.

Whereas the alarm bells commonly sounded within the Capital metropolis, President Sensi was adamant that Oliseh to Roma was already within the bag.

Sensi stated:

“Oliseh may additionally have signed an settlement with them, however Juve can not personal him.

“Ajax bought him to me every week in the past, and I’ve a commonly signed contract in Amsterdam. Amongst different issues, we closed with larger figures than what I hear about.”

However Juventus’ behind-the-scenes manoeuvers had received over Oliseh. And on June 22, 1999, the Nigerian introduced he had determined to snub Roma in favour of a transfer to Juventus.

Oliseh stated:

“I’ve determined I’m going to Juve. (Opposite to Sensi), I had by no means promised to signal for Roma. It’s true, there have been talks, however I’ve made my choice.

“Roma may have an settlement with Ajax; it doesn’t matter since no person can personal my card if I don’t wish to. Juventus is the perfect resolution for my future.”

Oliseh’s disappointing time in Turin

Roma had been surprised, Juventus rejoiced, and Oliseh grew to become the first-ever African to signal for the Bianconeri.

However the midfielder’s keep in Turin didn’t go in line with plan.

Supervisor Carlo Ancelotti had a number of midfielders at his disposal, together with Edgar Davids, Alessio Tacchinardi, and Vincenzo Maresca, and he selected rotation.

However by the top of the marketing campaign, Oliseh made solely eight Serie A appearances clocking up a meagre 253 minutes.

It was an unacceptable state of affairs for the midfielder, and he wished out. Months later, he was on his solution to German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Oliseh later confessed that going to Juventus was a mistaken choice and that he wished to depart the membership a lot earlier.

The Olympics gold medallist defined:

“Ancelotti was younger. I used to be not the one one who performed little. Different gamers had been additionally in my state of affairs.

“It wasn’t probably the greatest moments of my profession; I didn’t really feel effectively within the locker room. I didn’t like how I used to be handled. In September, after three months, I requested to depart, however the director Moggi informed me no.

“The next yr, I went to Germany to Borussia Dortmund: the supply had arrived, and after half an hour I had already signed.

“With them within the 2001-02 season, I received the Bundesliga and performed within the UEFA Cup ultimate. It’s nobody’s fault for the way my expertise at Juventus went: it was not the fitting time to maneuver there.”

On what regrets he had about not signing for AS Roma, Oliseh stated,

“After two years at Ajax, Roma and Juve wished me. I wished to play with the Giallorossi as a result of they had been led by Fabio Capello, a coach I appreciated very a lot and who had come to make a great crew.

“I think about him a terrific coach, probably the greatest on the earth: he had made me perceive what he wished, and he was clear with me. I’ve numerous respect for this man.

“The Bianconeri had made a greater supply to my crew. Ajax wished to promote me to Juve as an alternative of Roma, so ultimately I went to Turin.”

Life after Juventus 

Oliseh spent 4 years in Dortmund, the place he received the Bundesliga and claimed a runners-up medal within the UEFA Cup.

He would later symbolize VfL Bochum and Belgium’s Gent earlier than retiring in 2006.

He has since taken up a managerial profession and coached the Tremendous Eagles and the Netherlands’ Fortuna Sittard. Till just lately, he was the supervisor of German decrease division aspect SV 19 Straelen.

Away from soccer, the previous Julius Berger midfielder has a aptitude for farming.

Nonetheless, when Oliseh appears to be like again on the greatest deal of his profession, it will be with a way of what may have been.

Quotes credit score: Italy 24.