Karim Adeyemi has revealed an unusual source of inspiration for his prolific form against Celtic: his wife’s broccoli.
The Borussia Dortmund striker was the star of the show as the Bundesliga giants dismantled the Scottish champions 7-1 in a brutal Champions League clash at Signal Iduna Park.
Adeyemi’s first-half hat-trick left Brendan Rodgers’ side shell-shocked, as the German outfit ran riot, marking yet another humiliating European defeat for the Celtic manager.
It’s the third time Rodgers has overseen a seven-goal thrashing in the competition, having previously been at the helm for 7-1 and 7-0 losses to Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain during his first stint in Glasgow.
The 21-year-old forward wasted no time getting on the scoresheet, netting just 11 minutes in to restore Dortmund’s lead after Emre Can and Daizen Maeda had exchanged early strikes.
Adeyemi then added two more before the half-time whistle, ensuring he’d be leaving the ground with the match ball, with the added flourish of a Serhou Guirassy penalty in between. But when asked about his deadly display in front of goal, Adeyemi offered a surprising explanation.
“Yesterday my wife made broccoli, maybe that’s why,” he quipped.
His wife, Swiss-born rapper Loredana, has been a constant presence in his life, though it remains unconfirmed if the two are officially married. Despite that, they refer to each other as husband and wife.
Adeyemi was previously forced to defend his relationship after speculation mounted during a difficult run of form last season.
Responding to suggestions that his personal life was affecting his football, he said: “I knew what I was getting myself into, that she was a person in the public eye, but I found it crazy that people react like that after a bad game.
“Not unfair against me because I didn’t play well. It’s unfair to my girlfriend. It has nothing to do with how I play and perform on the pitch.”
Celtic, spared further punishment, saw Adeyemi exit in the second half with a hamstring injury. However, the striker allayed fears of a long-term absence, reassuring fans: “I had to go out and hope it’s not that bad. Hopefully, I’ll be back soon.”