Gift Orban causing unrest in Lyon dressing room with ‘Nasty’ personality

Nigerian striker Gift Orban (21) arrived at Olympique Lyonnais just over a week ago and is already causing problems in the dressing room. According to journalist Romain Molina on X, the 12M€ signing from Belgian club KRC Genk has been causing problems with his attitude in training.

Orban a réussi l’exploit de se mettre à dos une partie du vestiaire lyonnais tellement il a été infect avec ses nouveaux coéquipiers à l’entraînement.

Bien du courage au staff pour gérer son cas s’il ne se calme pas.

— Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) January 26, 2024

Ouais, enfin je m’en branle du vestiaire lyonnais et de Lacazette à qui je n’ai jamais parlé.

L’OL a fait aucune due diligence sur un mec complétement allumé dans un vestiaire déjà problématique. Beaucoup de clubs ne l’ont pas pris à cause de ça. Maintenant bonne chance à lui

— Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) January 26, 2024

Molina claims that the striker has already exhibited anger management issues, the claim seemingly being backed up by others in the comment sections of the tweets in question, one of which claims that the Super Eagles frontman was seen shouting emphatically at a journalist in a mixed zone despite only being asked a simple, non-controversial question. 

Le jour où je l’avais vu en zone mixte hurlait sur un journaliste alors que ce dernier lui a posé une question normale, j’ai su que c’est un joueur à problème.

— Chebli Ishaq (@IshaqChebli) January 26, 2024

As Molina asserts in his tweets, the Lyon locker room is already beset with problems of confidence, morale, and indiscipline, symptomatic of the position in which the seven-time Ligue 1 champions find themselves. Going even further, he accuses the French club of not doing their due diligence on the player’s background, given that these issues were also present at the player’s previous clubs. 

Lyon find themselves in the relegation play-off spot, having played a game more following tonight’s 3-2 home defeat to Stade Rennais. Les Gones rallied after being down 3-0 at half time but only managed to pull two goals back in the second half, once again provoking the ire of the Ultras, who confronted them post-match. Gift Orban played 45 minutes off the bench for the home side, the Nigerian being just one of numerous urgent issues the Rhone-Alpes side must address to avoid the looming spectre of a relegation battle. 

😮 Nouvelles images fortes entre supporters et joueurs de l’@OL après la défaite !#OLSRFC pic.twitter.com/d71BNUrfg7

— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) January 26, 2024

GFFN | Jack McArdle