Record breaker: What Super Eagles striker Rafiu Durosinmi said after 19-minute goal on Pisa debut vs Atalanta

Pisa’s €11 million man Rafiu Durosinmi has wasted no time justifying his record price tag, coming off the bench to rescue a vital point and claim Man of the Match honours in his Serie A debut.

Durosinmi has officially arrived in Serie A. Just days after completing a historic €11 million move from Viktoria Plzen, the Nigerian striker produced a moment of magic to salvage a 1-1 draw for Pisa SC against a high-flying Atalanta side on Friday night.

Entering the fray in the 68th minute with Pisa trailing after a late Nikola Krstović strike, the 23-year-old Super Eagles hopeful needed only 19 minutes to make his mark.

In the 87th minute, Durosinmi rose highest in the box to meet a pinpoint cross from Mehdi Léris, powering a header into the bottom corner to send the Arena Garibaldi into a frenzy.

Despite the pressure of being Pisa’s most expensive signing in history, Durosinmi appeared calm and humble during his post-match interview.

“Hello guys, I’m so grateful to have this as my first game, and I scored a goal, so I hope many more and let’s go,” Durosinmi told the club media while clutching his Man of the Match trophy.

The young forward’s debut was nothing short of a fairy tale. Beyond the goal, his physical presence and link-up play provided a much-needed spark for a Pisa side that has struggled for goals at home this season.

Pisa manager Alberto Gilardino had called for a "hero" to step up in their fight for Serie A survival, and in Durosinmi, they may have found one.

By netting against a Champions League-calibre defence like Atalanta’s, Durosinmi has immediately put the rest of the league on notice.

With fellow countryman Ebenezer Akinsanmiro already at the club, but away with the Super Eagles on AFCON 2025 duty, the Nigerian influence at Pisa is growing.

If Friday night was any indication, the "Durosinmi Era" in Italy is off to a flying start.

Pisa next face a daunting trip to the San Siro to play Inter Milan on January 23, where all eyes will be on the Nigerian to see if he can repeat his heroics.