Ex-Barcelona star provokes Pisa’s Rafiu Durosinmi into first Serie A red card

Colombia defender Yerry Mina once again showed why many strikers find him difficult to face after the defender provoked Rafiu Durosinmi into a red card during the Serie A match between Pisa Sporting Club and Cagliari Calcio, Soccernet.ng reports.

The incident happened in the 37th minute of the game. At the time, the match was still tense as both teams searched for control. Mina, known for his aggressive defending and psychological battles with attackers, repeatedly grappled with Durosinmi while trying to stop the Nigerian striker from finding space.

During one of these duels, Mina appeared to hold Durosinmi before suddenly falling to the ground after a reaction from the Pisa forward. The defender exaggerated the contact, drawing the attention of referee Federico La Penna, who was standing close to the incident.

After a brief look at the situation, the referee showed Rafiu Durosinmi a straight red card. The decision meant Pisa had to continue the match with only ten players for more than half of the game.

For many observers, the moment felt familiar. Mina has developed a reputation in European football for using clever mind games to frustrate opposing attackers. Over the years, several players have been drawn into confrontations with him.

Among those who have struggled to ignore his provocations are strikers such as Alvaro Morata and Ante Rebic, as well as defender Danilo D'Ambrosio. In some of those cases, opponents reacted angrily and were punished by referees.

Because of this pattern, many coaches warn their players that facing Mina requires strong mental discipline. Any emotional reaction can quickly turn into a costly mistake for the team.

Rafiu Durosinmi unfortunately became the latest player to fall into that trap.

Interestingly, ten-man Pisa regrouped to secure a 3-1 win to boost their survival chances.

Rafiu Durosinmi’s mixed start since joining Pisa

The red card also adds another difficult chapter to what has been a mixed start for Durosinmi since joining Pisa in January 2026.

The Nigerian striker arrived from FC Viktoria Plzen in a major transfer worth about €11 million, making him the most expensive signing in Pisa’s history. The club gave him a long-term contract running until June 2030 and hoped he would help them fight against relegation from Serie A.

His first appearance for the club created real excitement among the fans. On January 16, he came off the bench against Atalanta BC and scored a dramatic headed equaliser in the 87th minute just 19 minutes after entering the match. That moment suggested Pisa had found a powerful striker who could deliver in big situations.

However, the weeks that followed proved more difficult.

Since that debut goal, Durosinmi has struggled to make the same level of impact. In eight Serie A appearances so far, he has managed one goal and one assist. Pisa have also found life tough, suffering several defeats against teams such as Juventus, Bologna FC 1909 and ACF Fiorentina.

There were still positive moments. The striker provided an assist in the defeat to US Sassuolo Calcio and has shown flashes of the physical strength and aerial ability that convinced Pisa to sign him.

But the red card against Cagliari will now force him to miss the next league match against Como 1907 due to suspension.

Pisa will hope that Durosinmi can quickly learn from the incident and refocus on helping the club in its battle to stay in Serie A.