Gaby Mudingayi reveals after many years that he was ruled out by injury for a month because of Lazio teammate Paolo Di Canio's prank. “Imagine if the coach had found out…”
The midfielder spoke to Sky Sport Italia presenter Gianluca Di Marzio about his career and had a bizarre anecdote from his time at Lazio in 2005.
Gaby Mudingayi reveals after many years that he was ruled out by injury for a month because of Lazio teammate Paolo Di Canio's prank. “Imagine if the coach had found out…”
The midfielder spoke to Sky Sport Italia presenter Gianluca Di Marzio about his career and had a bizarre anecdote from his time at Lazio in 2005.
“I am afraid of dogs and Di Canio knew that. A few days before our first Rome Derby, Paolo invited all the new players to his home, so it was me, Belleri, Igli Tare and Valon Behrami. They were all in on it,” said Mudingayi.
“We walked in and there was a dog tied up in the garden, barking like crazy, so I told the guys to move out of the way. Meanwhile, I turn around, can’t see what’s going on and feel something jump on me.
“I started screaming, ‘the dog bit me, the dog bit me!’ But it was Di Canio who was playing a prank on me. Well, I was so scared that I pulled a thigh muscle. I was out for a month.
“Obviously, we kept it between ourselves. Imagine if the coach had found out how I got injured…”
Mudingayi has other more positive memories of his three years at Lazio.
“Before I signed, people warned me that it was a difficult place to play and the fans were racist, so I was a little scared. However, from the first day of pre-season training, all the fans made me realise that Lazio is a family.
“I still feel the affection from the supporters today. Playing for Lazio against Real Madrid at the packed Stadio Olimpico is something I will never forget.”