Chelsea winger Noni Madueke stole the show with a stunning hat-trick in a 6-2 thrashing of Wolverhampton on Sunday, August 25. However, it was his apology that truly showcased his character.
Madueke had sparked outrage before the match with a disparaging social media post about Wolverhampton, calling the city “sh*t”.
However, after scoring three goals and leading Chelsea to victory, he took the opportunity to apologize for his comments.
Madueke Apologizes to Wolverhampton after insulting the city
Madueke stirred controversy by posting a derogatory message about Wolverhampton on Instagram before Chelsea’s match at Molineux Stadium, leading to a hostile reception from home fans.
After his negative remarks, Madueke scored a hat-trick in the game, securing a 6-2 win for Chelsea. Following the match, he issued an apology for his earlier comments.
In his post match interview with Premier League Productions, Madueke said: “I just want to apologise to everyone that I might have offended.”
Madueke’s apology was sincere and heartfelt, acknowledging that his post was a “human mistake” and expressing his regret for offending the people of Wolverhampton.
He added: “It is just a human mistake, an accident. It wasn’t meant to be out on my socials like that. I’m sure Wolverhampton is a nice town and I’m sorry. In terms of the boos I expected it but it is part of the game. You have to be able to play under that sort of pressure.”
Madueke praises teammate Palmer and Chelsea boss Maresca
Noni Madueke faced boos throughout the match at Molineux but turned the tables in the second half, scoring three times in just over 14 minutes, all assisted by Cole Palmer.
Following this, Madueke credited his partnership with the former City star, describing Palmer as “cold” and himself as “fire”, creating a successful combination on the pitch.
Madueke said of Palmer: “He is cold and I am fire, so it mixes well.”
The forward also had high praise for his new manager, Enzo Maresca, highlighting his focus on details and approach to the game.
On Maresca, Madueke expressed: “He’s mad about his approach, the little details, you can see that.”
Meanwhile, Maresca reciprocated the praise, commending Madueke’s maturity and skill on the field.
In his post-match press conference, the new Chelsea boss Maresca addressed Madueke’s recent social media comments, expressing his trust in the player’s judgement.
He stated, “I trust people and I think people are mature enough to know what is correct and what is not correct. Noni is mature enough to understand what is correct and what is not correct.”
Who is Noni Madueke?
Madueke is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea.
Is Madueke a Nigerian?
Noni Madueke, whose full name is Chukwunonso Tristan Madueke, proudly traces his roots back to Nigerian Igbo heritage.
Born in Barnet, England, Madueke’s life took an exciting turn when he signed with PSV, leading him to relocate to the quaint village of Wintelre in the Netherlands with his mother.
This move marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life and football career.
Madueke’s football career
London-born winger Noni Madueke has taken the football world by storm, with a remarkable journey that spans from Crystal Palace’s youth academy to becoming a key player at Chelsea.
Madueke’s football career started with Crystal Palace at just nine years old and he spent three years honing his skills at the club. He then moved to Tottenham Hotspur, captaining their under-16 side and making his under-18 debut at 15.
In 2018, Madueke made a bold move to Dutch club PSV, signing a three-year contract and rejecting an offer from Manchester United. This decision proved pivotal in his development, as he refined his skills in the Netherlands.
Fast-forward to 2023, Madueke joined Chelsea on a seven-and-a-half-year contract, worth an estimated £28.5 million. He quickly made his mark, scoring his first goal against Arsenal and recently netting his first hat-trick in a thrilling match against Wolves.
A youth international for England, Madueke played a crucial role in the team’s success in the 2023 UEFA European U-21 Championship and helped them win the tournament without conceding a single goal.
What’s next for Noni Madueke and Chelsea?
Madueke will next be seen in action for Chelsea as they get ready for their upcoming match, which is the second leg of their Conference League qualifying tie against Swiss team Servette.
The match will take place at Servette’s home stadium, Stade de Genève wth kick off set at 19:30 GMT.
