Nigeria-eligible striker William Osula has come under fire from football fans and Manchester United legend Roy Keane after celebrating his goal for Newcastle United with a Michael Jackson-inspired dance. The incident occurred during Newcastle's 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, May 17, at St James' Park.
Osula's Theatrical Celebration Goes Viral
The 22-year-old forward was one of the standout performers as Newcastle kept their European hopes alive. However, after scoring, he pulled out a white glove and performed a choreographed dance mimicking the late pop legend. Video clips of the celebration quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking mixed reactions.
While some fans applauded the creativity and confidence, others criticized the celebration as excessive given the importance of the match. Roy Keane, analyzing the game for Sky Sports, did not hold back. He admitted the dance was entertaining but insisted there was a proper time and place for such antics.
“He can move, the kid, but time and a place. He can do that in a nightclub tonight in Newcastle,” Keane said.
Fans React Online
The celebration triggered widespread debate on X and TikTok. Many questioned how Osula managed to bring a white glove onto the pitch. User @KristenDavine wrote, “Where did he get the glove thou?” Another fan, @mustaphamusa_, added, “Where are day getting this stuff from.”
Some criticized modern football celebrations, with @Ocunited7 posting, “What is this Premier League turning into another thing.” Others called the dance shameless. @svmqxj said, “shameless….absolutely shameless individual.” Meanwhile, @IvXv praised Keane's reaction: “By far one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen all season. Roy Keanes reaction was priceless.”
Still, some Newcastle fans defended the youngster, enjoying the entertainment value.
Osula's Impressive Form Continues
Away from the controversy, Osula's recent performances have been a bright spot for manager Eddie Howe. According to Opta, the Danish-Nigerian forward scored twice against West Ham, becoming Newcastle's youngest player to net a Premier League brace since Kenedy in 2018.
At 22 years and 286 days old, Osula has established himself as an emerging attacking star. He has scored six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances, after managing only two in his previous 50 top-flight matches for Newcastle and Sheffield United.
Newcastle now face a difficult away trip to Fulham in their final match of the season, as they battle for European qualification.
Nigeria Monitoring Osula
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has begun discussions with Osula as part of efforts to secure dual-national players for the Super Eagles. Born in Denmark to a Nigerian father, Osula remains eligible to represent either Nigeria or Denmark at senior level, having not made a competitive debut for Denmark.
