After being seen at the British Grand Prix and Paris Fashion Week in July, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has made it clear that he is separating his life outside football from his game. He is now focused on the upcoming season, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
This follows a busy summer where he has gained more attention both on and off the pitch.
“What happens off the pitch is one thing, what happens on the pitch is another,” Okoye said.
“You have to separate the two. I never let these two worlds collide.”
Okoye mentioned that while marketing and personal branding are now important in football, his main duty is to protect Udinese’s goal.
“At the end of the day, I am a goalkeeper, and my main job is to protect my team’s goal,” he explained.
He has been linked with a move away from Udinese this summer but remains dedicated to the club. His contract runs until 2028.
Okoye also talked about how living in Udine helps him stay focused on his goals.
“I really like Udine. It’s a human, quiet city. You have your peace there and you can focus 100 per cent on your work,” he said.
This stability has allowed Okoye to become a key player for Udinese after a tough time at Watford.
He kept 10 clean sheets in Serie A last season and aims to continue that performance when the new season kicks off next Saturday against Padova in the Coppa Italia.
Udinese will first play Padova in the Coppa Italia Round of 64 before starting their 2026/27 Serie A season at home against Como on August 22.
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