Former Hellas Verona striker Andrea Pisanu has hailed the influence of Nigerian forward Gift Orban at the club.
Orban, 23, joined the Italian side on a season-long loan deal from German side Hoffenheim and has settled seamlessly into the squad.
The 23-year-old has delivered a couple of brilliant displays for his new side and netted his first goal since his arrival late in the summer, with the equalizer from the spot-kick as Hellas Verona held Juventus to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Andrea Pisanu, who played for Parma and Verona during his playing days, expressed satisfaction with the energy and commitment of the young forward.
“He’s surprising me in a positive way, I like him. I’m seeing a lot of competitive energy in him, and he always leaves the field having given everything.”, Pisanu said.
“These are characteristics that the Verona fans really like, because even if the team struggles, they truly appreciate when players leave the field exhausted.”
The Super Eagles striker was a renowned goalscorer during his time at Gent in the Belgian league and will hope to rediscover that form for the Italian side.
Orban will also be eyeing a spot in Eric Chelle highly-competitive Nigeria’s squad for the African Cup of Nations in Morocco, later this year.
“We know how important it is to have a striker who scores goals, especially for a team fighting for survival,” Pisanu added.
“But I see in him a great desire to shine, knowing that this is a crucial opportunity for his career.
“It’s hard to say how many goals he’ll score, but I hope they’re the decisive ones to lead the team to safety.”
Hellas Verona will next be in action in the Italian Serie A, when they visit the capital to play AS Roma on Sunday.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
