Â
Nigerian footballer and former Torino striker, Akeem Omolade, 39, was found dead in his car in Italy just days after complaining of pain in his legs.Â
Â
Emergency services found him unresponsive in a Peugeot in Sicily’s capital Palermo on Monday, June 13.
Â
Initial examination showed no obvious external injuries. Omolade’s family said the Kaduna-born player had complained of leg pains days before.
Â
The Nigerian represented the Maroons in Serie A, Italy’s top flight, between 2001-2003, making five appearances in total.
Â
Â
Omolade also represented 11 other clubs in the country, including Treviso, Novara, and Reggiana before his retirement in 2017.
Â
Torino said in a statement: ‘President Urbano Cairo and all of Torino Football Club sincerely share in the Omolade family’s grief at the passing of our former player Akeem Omolade.
Â
‘Signed from Treviso, he first played in our youth side and then for the first team, making his Serie A debut against Inter Milan on February 2, 2003.
Â
‘The entire Torino family sends its deepest sympathies to his loved ones, his parents, and his many friends.’
Â
‘Omolade spoke out against racism after being targeted by a group of the club’s ‘ultras’.
Popular Nigerian Footballer Found Dead In His Car In Italy (Photos)