In Europe’s top five leagues, Victor Osimén is the main reason why Napoli are the dominant team in the country and on the continent. The Nigerian striker has paired seamlessly with Georgia’s Kvica and his Kvaratshelia, scoring 18 goals. This puts him five points ahead of Inter Milan’s second-placed Lautaro Martinez. But what’s more impressive is that Osimén achieved it in four games less of him than the Argentinian.
Napoli’s reward is a 15-point gap lead over Martinez and Inter Milan in the Scudetto race. His only setback in that group was his 2–0 defeat at Anfield. Playing in Europe, Osimén added to the tally with a goal against Ajax. However, he missed half of those games, either through injury or substitute status.
The rise of the Nigerian has seen pundits and coaches list him as the top striker not just in Italy but in the world. Find out how he went from Belgian professional league to leader of Serie A in just five years.
Beginning of ocimene
Victor Osimhen first made headlines with his magical performance at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Ultimate Strikers Academy prodigy won his Golden boot as he scored 10 goals and two assists in seven games. Nigeria won the tournament by beating Croatia, the United States, mighty Brazil and others. U-17 Worlds Due to his Cup success, Osimmen signed a contract with Wolfsburg. He immediately started training with his first team.
He didn’t see much game time against Wolfsburg as they fought to survive through the fear of relegation. In his two years at the Germans, Osimmen made a total of 15 appearances and scored no goals. He moved on loan to Belgian side RSC He Charleroi, where he scored both a lot of playing time and goals. In his 25 appearances he scored 12 goals and he scored 3 assists, finishing 8th in the league. His output has also attracted suitors across Europe.
“My confidence level [at Wolfsburg] What the loan move to Charleroi did for me was inexplicable,” Osimén told BBC Sport while playing in the Jupiler Pro League. “Football in Belgium helped me. I had a great group of players around me and the coaching crew was there with me.”
After making his loan permanent in 2019, Osimén packed up for LOSC Lille for a $24 million transfer fee. This more than tripled his earnings of Charleroi’s previous record breakaway.
“Lille is a very good club, they have quality projects and they are attracting a great class of players. In the last few years, more than ever before. Come here and join a great club, Lille.” I am still very young and learning and I think this project is a perfect fit for me to continue to progress.”
Osimén made an immediate impact when he stepped into Stade Pierre Mauroy. He scored his four goals in his first three matches in Ligue 1. Champions Despite the club’s mediocrity on the big stage with his five defeats in his six league games, Osiméné was a breath of fresh air. He finished the season with his 13 goals, placing him fourth in Ligue 1. His performances earned him a transfer to Serie A, like Leos the previous season.
A dream born in Naples
After defeating Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for Osimén, Napoli made great use of him. Every season the striker gets better. His debut His campaign saw him return with a decent return of 10 goals in 2020/21. After that, record 13 in 2021/22. This season he beat those still playing many games. He has 18 goals and 3 assists in 19 games. This is his contribution of more than one goal per game in Serie A. He is key to Diego his Armando his Maradona his three-year tenure at his stadium. He leads the Napoli quest to challenge European action with his one of Europe’s best frontiers.
Despite having stars in the squad such as Lorenzo Insigne and Doris Mertens, Osimén had good reason for Napoli to score.
“Osimén is a great striker. I am blown away by the potential he has and I am excited to see what he will do in the future,” coach Luciano Spalletti told DAZN after a 5-1 win over Juventus. “With two or three balls on the touchline, he has the pace, skill, courage and physicality to deal with situations like that. I hit it. He still has amazing room for improvement.”
His highlights include a Europa League brace against Leicester, a hat-trick against Napoli’s Sassuolo, two goals and an assist in a 5-1 win.
Description of Victor Osimen’s superiority
Osimmen isn’t a dangerous dribbler like Hvicha Kvaratskeria. He’s not an intrusive, space-creating winger like Matteo Politano.
Rather, Osimen’s main job is to lurk in boxes and look for opportunities. Good fit; he can score with both his feet and his head. He can even be a playmaker in the box.
Wherever Osimén plays, he has a good creator behind him so he won’t dribble or fall deep to steal the ball. But we know his ability to make the right passes and create chances is there.
His frame is big at 6’1 and 165 pounds. Visually, he towers over defenders, so it’s only natural for Luciano Spalletti to use Osimén as his traditional number nine. Join the wing-oriented attack loosely or drift wide to create space.
That move is why he has had a total of 80 shots in Serie A, 32 of which have been on target. His current tally puts him on a sensational and potentially record-breaking pace of his 36 league goals. It helps that Osimene is clinical, athletic, confident and has good positioning. This is a combination only top class strikers have.
Osimhen’s profile is similar to that of Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, or Dusan Vlahovic. All three are big, burly, ferocious strikers who have led some of Europe’s best-known teams. The similarities mean it should come as no surprise that teams like United, Liverpool and Chelsea are chasing Nigerian attackers. Despite his skill and obvious goal-scoring prowess, Osimén won’t be leaving Napoli anytime soon. His contract expires in two years, but he’s doing something special in Southern Italy.
Future of Osimen
Napoli are likely to run away with the Scudetto. FiveThirtyEight estimates his 97% winning percentage to be by far the best among the top European leagues. Napoli are one of the most likely to win a continental trophy since Maradona’s era. Centered around an exciting young core, the Neapolitan faithful will enjoy the dominant period that is already happening.
As for Osimén, he is very happy to be part of such a thriving fan base, as are the Napoli fans. “Not 100%, not even 1,001%. I’m in one of the biggest clubs in Europe and one of the best leagues in Europe,” he told Nigerian outlet OmaSports about whether he wanted to stay. “This is the life I want to live.”
Photo: IMAGO / Antonio Balasco