“Dinner celebration” message from Murillo to De Zerbi
Michael Amir Murillo did much more than just open his Beşiktaş account against Göztepe. The Panamanian right-back turned his first goal for the club into a pointed response to his former coach at Marseille, Roberto De Zerbi, with a very deliberate celebration.
Beşiktaş signed Murillo from Marseille in the winter transfer window for a fee of 5 million euros. In the 4-0 win over Göztepe, the 30-year-old finally found the net, scoring his first goal in black and white. Right after the ball hit the back of the net, he made a clear “eating” gesture with his hands – a celebration that was anything but random.
That move was a direct reference to a public remark De Zerbi had previously made in France. During their time together at Marseille, the Italian coach had excluded Murillo from the squad and sent a sharp message to his players, famously stating: “Players who are not hungry have no place in my team.” That phrase became the symbol of Murillo’s departure, effectively paving the way for him to leave the French club.
So when Murillo mimed eating after scoring for Beşiktaş, it was widely interpreted as an answer to his former boss: a way of saying, “I’m still hungry, and I’m proving it on the pitch.” In a single gesture, he turned a painful past decision into motivation and a moment of personal vindication.
Murillo’s performance on the night fully backed up the symbolism of that celebration. According to data provider Sofascore, the right-back delivered a complete display, earning a rating of 8.1. He took two shots on target, scored once, and completed 36 of his 47 passes. Impressively, 20 of those successful passes came in the opposition half, underlining how aggressively he contributed to Beşiktaş’s attacking play.
Defensively, he was just as reliable. Murillo registered four clearances and one interception, while coming out on top in five duels – both in the air and on the ground. In other words, he offered exactly what coaches expect from a modern full-back: defensive solidity combined with constant involvement in build-up and final-third actions.
For Beşiktaş, this performance was more than just a solid outing from a new signing. It was a sign that a right-back acquired mid-season for a significant fee is settling into the team and the league. The club invested 5 million euros in Murillo, and matches like the Göztepe clash suggest that investment might quickly start paying off, both sportingly and, potentially, in future market value.
The narrative around Murillo has changed rapidly in just a few months. At Marseille, he was pushed towards the exit door, portrayed as a player who supposedly lacked the “hunger” demanded by De Zerbi. In Istanbul, that same player is being talked about as a hard-working, driven professional who seized his opportunity and made an instant impact in a commanding win.
Football is full of these turning points. A coach’s phrase, dropped almost casually in a press conference, can stick to a player like a label. Being deemed “not hungry enough” can follow someone from club to club. Murillo’s response was not through interviews or complaints, but through his feet and his gesture after scoring. It was a quiet but powerful way of rewriting the story around him.
The “eating” celebration also reflects a broader trend in modern football: players using celebrations as a personal language. From hands to the ears, to invisible glasses, to symbolic dances, each movement can become a message. Murillo’s choice took on an almost ironic twist, transforming De Zerbi’s criticism into a motivational slogan. By “eating” in front of the cameras, he showed that criticism can be turned into fuel.
From a tactical point of view, Murillo’s display against Göztepe showed why Beşiktaş targeted him in the first place. His ability to play high on the flank, combine with midfielders, and still track back to defend is central to how the team wants to operate. Twenty successful passes in the opposition half highlight a full-back comfortable pushing forward and taking responsibility in possession, not just hugging the touchline and delivering crosses.
At 30 years of age, Murillo is also at a crucial point in his career. He is no longer a prospect learning the ropes, but an experienced professional expected to lead by example. Being discarded by a coach like De Zerbi at a major European club could have undermined his confidence. Instead, he appears to have used the episode as a turning point – a moment to prove to himself and others that he still has plenty to offer at the top level.
For Beşiktaş supporters, this kind of mentality matters. They demand players who fight for every ball, who turn criticism into energy rather than excuses. A right-back celebrating his first goal with a gesture loaded with meaning fits perfectly into a club culture built on resilience and defiance. Performances like this help new players bond faster with the fans, especially when they carry a story of overcoming adversity.
Psychologically, the Göztepe match might well serve as a release valve for Murillo. Scoring, contributing on both ends of the pitch, and sending a symbolic message to a former coach creates a sense of closure. It allows him to look ahead rather than back, focusing on Beşiktaş’s objectives instead of what went wrong in Marseille.
The case also raises questions about how harsh public assessments from coaches can shape careers. When a manager says “there is no room for players who are not hungry,” it inevitably invites speculation about attitude and professionalism. Murillo’s answer, built on numbers – 8.1 rating, a goal, key defensive actions – is a reminder that a player’s true character is best measured over time, across different environments and systems.
From a sporting perspective, Beşiktaş now has every reason to build on this momentum. A confident right-back who has just delivered a near-complete performance offers tactical flexibility. He can be used in more advanced roles in certain systems, or asked to tuck inside to create overloads in midfield, knowing that he has both the engine and the passing range to handle it.
In the bigger picture, Murillo’s story underscores an essential truth of modern football: one coach’s discard can become another club’s key piece. What was once seen as a weakness – alleged lack of “hunger” – has turned into a narrative weapon, something the player can flip in his favor. With every strong performance in a Beşiktaş shirt, that old label loses weight, replaced by new images: a determined 30-year-old right-back, celebrating with a “dinner” gesture after proving his point on the pitch.