Gift Orban Delivers Bold Message As Hellas Verona Hit With Transfer Dilemma
Orban was the difference-maker as Verona beat Fiorentina in their Serie A relegation six-pointer.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 15 December 2025
Gift Orban’s response to his Africa Cup of Nations omission was simple but effective: score twice, silence the critics, and drag Verona to a priceless Serie A win.
Gift Orban ‘exceptional’ for Verona in relegation six-pointer at Fiorentina
Nigeria controversially left Orban out of their AFCON squad, but his performance for Verona at Fiorentina felt like a direct reminder of what they’re missing.
Hellas beat Fiorentina 2-1, with Orban striking in the 42nd minute and again in stoppage time to seal all three points for his side.
Orban’s first goal was pure striker instinct, punishing a defensive lapse and beating David de Gea before half-time.
Unai Nunez’s own goal brought the Viola back into the game, but Orban had the final say in stoppage time.
Antoine Bernede pulled the ball back from the byline and set his teammate up to tap home from six yards.
As a result, Verona triumphed against a Fiorentina outfit in crisis.
Orban’s efforts were the kind that changes a dressing room – away from home, under pressure, in a relegation six-pointer.
Gift Orban’s brace gave Verona three points over Fiorentina 🎁#FiorentinaVerona pic.twitter.com/axuCochs37
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 15, 2025
Inside Verona’s camp, the praise was immediate, with Armel Bella-Kotchap calling Orban “exceptional” after the final whistle.
“I’m really happy for him,” Bella-Kotchap said on DAZN.
“He was exceptional, played a very important match and helped us win with his two goals.
“He, like the whole team, must continue like this.”
Orban certainly delivered a bold message towards Nigeria’s hierarchy as they prepare to head to AFCON.
Verona must act before interest in Orban spreads
Verona seem to believe Orban can be a difference-maker, not a flash in the pan.
But now, Verona now face a transfer dilemma they didn’t expect to feel this early on in the season.
They signed Orban from Hoffenheim on loan for €1million, with an option to buy set at €9million.
At €9million, he’s not cheap for a club fighting at the bottom. However, considering how much strikers can go for, it’s simultaneously low.
Every goal has an impact on the market, and one dramatic brace is exactly how interest spreads. Scouts notice, agents talk, narratives build.
If Verona wait until later on in the season, they risk the clause looking like a bargain to others and a headache to them.
They also risk Orban’s head being turned, because momentum changes status fast, especially for a striker who just won a relegation six-pointer.
The opinion angle is simple: if Orban is truly a season-saver, Verona should consider snapping him up for €9million.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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