‘I can rating 4 objectives per recreation’: Chelsea’s celebrity striker goal Victor Osimhen on his Premier League ambition and love of Didier Drogba

Victor Osimhen friends into the display screen in entrance of him earlier than giving a thumbs-up and a cheery wave. 

It’s lengthy into the night in Lagos, only a few weeks earlier than he and his Napoli team-mates would have fun successful the membership’s first Serie A title in 33 years for the reason that days of Diego Maradona. However fortunately for Mail Sport, the Nigerian celebrity proved simpler to pin down than he was for these unfortunate centre-backs tasked with stopping him in the course of the 2022-23 marketing campaign.

A shining gentle of the European recreation with 31 objectives that season, the Napoli ahead is an idol in his native Nigeria and has since emerged one of many hottest properties within the switch market, yesterday closing in on a shocking transfer to Chelsea.

The 24-year-old hitman, who’s reportedly concerned in a £39million swap cope with Blues outcast Romelu Lukaku and teen Cesare Casadei set to maneuver within the different course, was that yr valued by Napoli at a minimal of £150m and admitted it was his ‘dream’ to play within the Premier League. 

Settling down in his resort room for his first main interview with a UK media outlet, Osimhen delivers an enchanting account of his journey to turning into probably the greatest strikers on the planet.

Rising up in tough circumstances within the Lagos suburbs, Osimhen bought oranges and bottled water on town’s streets to make ends meet, and noticed his native soccer pitches shut down.

He moved to German membership Wolfsburg aged 17 and located the separation from family and friends ‘traumatising’. 

After gradual enchancment at Charleroi in Belgium and French membership Lille, Osimhen’s profession took off in Italy. He guided Napoli the historic honours with 26 Serie A objectives in 2022-23, and adopted that up with 15 league objectives final marketing campaign – in a season affected by minor accidents and his involvement on the Africa Cup of Nations.

Since turning into a European celebrity, Osimhen is now a bit of extra cautious when requested about English soccer, however his inspiration is likely one of the icons of the Premier League period – Didier Drogba.

Point out the previous Chelsea striker’s identify and Osimhen turns into a pure fan once more. 

‘I’ve all the time supported Drogba and I’ve enormous love and admiration for him,’ he gushes. 

‘I bear in mind when he scored the equaliser within the 2012 Champions League Closing, an incredible header, and the way in which I celebrated was as if I had scored the aim. My mates knew I used to be obsessive about Drogba.

‘Once I scored 10 objectives and gained the Golden Boot on the Underneath-17 World Cup in 2015, one of many Nigeria workers confirmed me a tweet from Drogba. It stated “Congratulations Victor. I want you all the very best for the long run.”

‘I used to be shocked. I by no means believed somebody like Didier Drogba would tweet these phrases to a younger aspiring striker. It gave me a complete new motivation to succeed.

‘Belief me, he has been so useful. One morning final yr I wakened and checked my Instagram, and located messages to me from him, complimenting me, however saying I nonetheless had an extended method to go. It is wonderful to keep up a correspondence with him.

‘I attempt to mannequin my recreation on his and there are loads of issues I can take from his recreation and add to my very own, so there may be nothing higher for a younger participant.

‘He is a hero in his nation, he is performed to the best degree, gained rather a lot and made African kids dream. He is a busy man however at any time when he sees my messages on Instagram he replies instantly. It is an amazing feeling.’

Likely Osimhen now has the identical standing amongst Africa’s younger forwards. And if not each Premier League follower is conversant in his work, they quickly will probably be. 

He is probably not fairly as prolific as Erling Haaland – who’s? – however Osimhen is arguably a extra full No 9. He’s technically excellent, highly effective within the air, fast, athletic and clever.

Carrying a protecting masks on the pitch after breaking his cheekbone and eye socket in November 2021, the 24-year-old even appeared like a superhero. 

However all through our interview, he’s much more like Clark Kent, along with his unaffected, straightforward method and fascinating dialog.

The thought of Osimhen vs Haaland duel for the Premier League Golden Boot is thrilling but Osimhen reveals that the pair already share nice mutual respect.

‘I play with Leo Ostigard at Napoli, who is excellent mates with Haaland and performs for Norway with him,’ Osimhen explains.

‘I’m a fan of the Bundesliga so I’ve adopted him for some time and each weekend he appears to attain two, three, 4 objectives.

‘Ostigard spoke to me rather a lot about him, how laborious he skilled, then at some point he stated: ‘In order for you, I can convey you his shirt.’ I stated: ‘In fact, bro.’

‘So he spoke to Haaland, who additionally requested for my shirt, so we swapped them by way of Ostigard. He is likely one of the better of his era so to be in contrast with him – and regarded probably the greatest strikers on the planet – solely conjures up me to do extra.

‘I can rating 4 objectives in a recreation, I can present extra assists, I can do many extra issues as I’ve the standard to execute them. I must work even tougher after which on the finish of my profession I can hopefully look again and say sure, I did some fantastic issues.

‘Everybody watches the EPL (Premier League), it’s actually aggressive, however Serie A can also be one of many strongest leagues. When Cristiano Ronaldo performed there, he stated the identical factor. I’m actually blissful to be there.

‘If we are able to win the title for Napoli, town won’t ever be the identical once more. Once you go to town, the followers have tears of their eyes. They have not gained the league since Maradona’s time (1990) and they’re so near realising this dream.

‘Generally they arrive to the gamers’ homes to point out their love, as late as 2am. Naples bleeds for soccer and I’ve imagined many occasions how town will explode if we are able to win the Scudetto (league title). Now we have possibilities to go far within the Champions League, too.’

Ostigard this summer time accomplished a transfer to Rennes in France, calling an finish to his two-year spell with Osimhen and Napoli. 

Osimhen’s rise is all of the extra spectacular contemplating the adversity he has skilled. His was not the graceful path of the golden prospect who’s taken into the academy of a prime membership in his early years and progresses into the primary workforce.

There have been sacrifices all through his story which make immediately’s success all of the sweeter, as he rubs shoulders with Nigerian greats like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu, Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amunike. 

Osimhen’s type of play is unselfish but he wouldn’t be human if he weren’t attracted by private objectives, with the African Footballer of the 12 months award – gained by Drogba in 2006 and 2009 – a triumph on his portfolio of honours.

‘I began enjoying soccer at seven or eight however I used to be not likely into it as I used to be nonetheless going with my sisters to promote oranges,’ he remembers. ‘I knew I used to be good at it however then at a sure level I realised I needed to take it critically.

‘They closed down the pitch at my major faculty and we had loads of proficient gamers, however most of them went to get jobs. After that I needed to stroll for an hour to coach at a secondary faculty exterior my neighborhood.

‘On the similar time I used to be promoting bottled water within the Lagos visitors, making an attempt to assist my household nevertheless I may. I had trials for the Nigeria Underneath-17 facet, which means a five-hour journey to (capital metropolis) Abuja.

‘Initially I did not make the grade and once I discovered, I had tears in my eyes. However I saved pushing and finally I used to be chosen. The Underneath-17 World Cup was a turning level for me.’

Forward of being honoured as the very best African participant on the planet in 2023, he added: ‘I’m not going to lie. It could be my dream to be African Footballer of the 12 months. I used to be on the ceremony in 2015, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gained the award. As an African you dream of this prize and perhaps I can win.

‘My first expertise of European soccer, at Wolfsburg, was tough. However it paved the way in which for what I’ve accomplished since. I do know that if I modify nations, I’ll adapt rapidly.

‘I’m not the kind of participant who folds beneath stress and I attempt to keep calm in each scenario. The season goes very well. I’ve placing up some wonderful numbers and I’m pleased with what I’ve achieved – however I’m not accomplished but.’