Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian playing for Napoli, is an example of rags to riches. Victor Osimhen was destined for greatness by his manager Gennaro Gattuso after the player was signed for a club-record fee. While the footballer has managed to reach the top, the road to the top was not always easy.
Victor Osimhen Is Destined for Greatness
Humble Beginnings
The 22-year old Nigerian international had a less than satisfying childhood as he grew up in an impoverished area where his parents suffered severe financial issues. During these times of struggle, Osimhen worked as a hawker in Lagos. He sold sachets of water to the public under the scorching sun to aid his family to meet ends. The job was all but rewarding and contributed to the issues that he and his family had.
A Subject of Interest
While being a hawker was his best chance of survival at the time, the Super Eagles star’s only reprieve came in the form of playing football with his friends. He practised Cape-Diem while playing football when he was off work and got back to work when the time arrived. His other moments of reprieve came when he joined other people to watch football in a public viewing centre. While his passion for football grew on the pitch, the lack of financial means created an obstacle and provided a reminder of his situation. Soon, Osimhen’s talent was recognized by a local scout who invited him to play for the Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos. This time, he shone under the spotlight in the presence of many.
Hawker No More
In 2015, Osimhen joined the u17 world cup squad and stole the headlines as he smashed a record ten goals for the Nigerian national team. The form provided a catalyst for a bidding war between several European heavyweights. After an intense competition of tug and war, the Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg procured the services of one of the most sought-after talents. The move was less than fruitful as the u17 star failed to find the back of the net. A loan move to the Belgian Pro league re-assured the promise that Osimhen first showed as he scored 20 times in 36 appearances. In the summer of 2019, The Ligue 1 side Lille showed a profound interest in signing the player.
Destined for Greatness
After the move, he chipped in 18 goals in 38 games, and this put the top clubs across Europe on high alert. Clubs including Napoli and Manchester United were viewing him as a possible option. Once the season was over, Lille did not want to lose their prized possession for anything less than a record deal worth 70 million Euros plus add-ons in excess of 10 million Euros. The Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso urged the club president to fork out the club record fee to solve their issues upfront. On 31 July 2020, The Italian outfit signed Victor Osimhen in a deal that made him the most expensive African player in football.
A New Move, A New Challenge
The 2020/21 season has been an injury-ridden campaign, but he has shown brilliance every time he has stepped on a football pitch. With six goals and two assists in 1,384 minutes of action, one can expect Osimhen to get better as time goes on.
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