Maduka Okoye resets focus for new Udinese season

After being spotted at the British Grand Prix and Paris Fashion Week in July, Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has drawn a clear line between his off-field activities and football as he resets his focus for the new season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

This comes after an eventful summer in which his visibility has grown significantly, both on and off the pitch.

“What happens off the pitch is one thing, what happens on the pitch is another,” he said.

“You have to separate the two. I never let these two worlds collide.”

Okoye added that while marketing and personal branding had become important aspects of modern football, his primary responsibility remained protecting 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 said.

Okoye has been linked with a move away from Udinese this summer but remains committed to the club, where his current contract runs until 2028.

He also spoke about how living in Udine could help him maintain the focus required to achieve 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.

That stability has helped Okoye establish himself as an important figure for Udinese following a difficult spell at Watford.

He kept 10 clean sheets in Serie A last season and will be hoping to build on that form when the new campaign begins next Saturday against Padova in the Coppa Italia.

Udinese will face Padova in the Coppa Italia Round of 64 before beginning their 2026/27 Serie A campaign at home against Como on August 22.

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