I was forced out - Taribo West shares insight into why he left AC Milan

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has lifted the lid on the issues that compelled him to leave AC Milan during his heydays.

West has claimed that he was forced out of the club by a cabal in Italy.

After a successful four-year spell at Auxerre in Ligue 1, West joined Inter Milan in 1997 where he won the UEFA Cup in his second season alongside the likes of Ronaldo, Alvaro Recoba, Diego Simeone and Javier Zanetti.

Surprisingly, West joined Inter's city rivals Milan two seasons later after falling on the pecking order in defence during Marcello Lippi's time in charge of the Nerazzurri.

However, West only managed four appearances for the Rossoneri before he was loaned to Derby County.

Explaining why his time at Milan was cut short, the 49-year-old disclosed that he outplayed Paolo Maldini who was then the captain of the Italian national team in his position.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Newsmen, Taribo West was asked about the rumours surrounding his exit from the club and he came out with the following.

"In my time I had a certain issue with (Paulo) Maldini and Costacurta. I was out of the league because I came for the AFCON. From the preparation time till the AFCON was over, I spent almost 80 per cent of the season with the national team. So, when I went back (to Milan) there were five games left and out of the five, I played four games. I played in Maldini's position and I took the position from him. Then I went to meet the President of Inter Milan and see if I could return to the club and he asked me why did I leave in the first place for Milan and I told him I wanted some experience with another team and see how it is.

"Then he said, 'why did you play in Maldini's position?' So, I said anywhere the coach told me to play I would play. He said, 'in Italy you don't do that, that's our national team captain, you are looking for trouble.' Thats what the Inter Milan president told me, I can say it anywhere. So, they had to look for a way to scheme me out of the team and that was why I left Milan."