Victor Osimhen has been compared to former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba by Jose Mourinho but says the star needs to stop diving.
The conversation involving Jose Mourinho, manager of Roma, and Victor Osimhen, a striker for Napoli, happened after Roma’s 2-1 loss.
In a 2-1 victory over Roma on Sunday night at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the 24-year-old struck an incredible goal.
His advantage in the Capocannoniere charts increased to 14 goals this season.
Osimhen used his chest to control Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cross before juggling it on his right leg and slamming it in with his right foot.
After Roma’s 2-1 loss at the Stadio Maradona, Mourinho was questioned about Osimhen in comparison to the legendary Drogba, a player he worked with at Chelsea.
“He is of the same level as Drogba, but Didier didn’t dive,” Jose Mourinho stated.
“If Victor changes, then Okay. I’d buy him if I was at a club with a lot of money. However, if he does go to England one day, he needs to change, because in Italy they put up with this sort of behaviour, whereas in the Premier League, they’d come down hard on him.”
After the game, Mourinho also chatted with Osimhen and said to him that: “I told him that he scored a wonderful goal and needs to stop diving so much. His goal was fantastic, he did the same thing when we met earlier this season, so he’s a fantastic player. But he mustn’t dive.”
Victor Osimhen
Victor James Osimhen, a striker for Serie A side Napoli and the Nigerian national team, was born in Nigeria on December 29, 1998.
Osimhen, a Nigerian-born player, started his senior career in Germany in 2017 with VfL Wolfsburg. After spending a season and a half with the team, he moved on loan to Charleroi in Belgium in 2018–19 before joining Lille in France.
Osimhen moved to Serie A team Napoli in 2020 for a club-record €70 million. In the 2021–22 season, he was named the Best Young Player in Serie A.
In 2015, Osimhen was given the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Boot award, as Nigeria won the tournament.
How Does Osimhen Compare To Didier Drogba
Victor Osimhen, a lanky young footballer who many could see was destined for more was first introduced to the world about seven years ago.
He was strong, courageous, eager, and hungry, and he was hardly outplayed in every facet of the contest.
No scout in the world would have questioned Victor Osimhen’s skills as those of a player destined for greatness based on what he shown in Chile.
His 10 goals during the competition were a mark of excellence.
Numerous teams expressed interest in signing Osimhen, but Wolfsburg ultimately prevailed.
The Super Eagles striker has always worked hard to advance, from his time in Germany when he cut his tooth in Europe to his ordeal and stardom in Belgium to his French cruise and now his employment in Italy.
When questioned about Osimhen’s talent and the similarities between the two of them, Drogba provided his opinion. He responded favorably.
“I like him (Osimhen) a lot. Great striker. He can be the best in the world and when you have the talent like he’s got, I think it’s just a question of momentum,” Drogba said in an interview with Marco Giordano.
Receiving such praise from one’s idol is a sign of progress. Osimhen is developing into one of the most lethal marksmen in the world, and his present estimation confirms his aptitude.
When he played for Chelsea or Cote D’Ivoire, Drogba consistently shown strong leadership. The Ivorian is more than just a football idol to Osimhen, he once claimed.
“I like Drogba, but not just as a footballer,” he told the Republica Newspaper.
“I like leaders and he was it on and off the pitch, where it counts the most. He has a personality that I admire,” the striker said.
Osimhen must direct his ambition for leadership and exemplary behavior as many young players of future generations already looking up to him in order to reach Drogba’s level.
Young players are already looking up to the Napoli star in the same manner that Osimhen looked up to Drogba.
Victor Osimhen So Far This Season
Osimhen played 15 games in the 2022–23 Italian Serie A season (plus 1 as a sub). From a total of 50 shots, 26 of them found the goal, and he has scored 14 goals (12.34 xG).
Victor averages 12 passes per game, completes his passes 73% of the time, and totals 3 assists.
Victor Osimhen has played in 2 games in the UEFA Champions League for the 2022–23 season (plus 1 as a sub).
He has taken a total of 6 shots, 2 of which have found the goal (2.22 xG). Victor averages 6 passes per game, completes his passes 76% of the time, and does not provide any assists.
Spalletti Hails Victor Osimhen After Incredible Goal Against Roma
Victor Osimhen’s goal against Jose Mourinho’s Roma was praised by Napoli head coach Spalletti as one of his greatest.
SEE GOAL BELOW:
The Nigerian controlled the cross from Kvaratskhelia and unleashed a fantastic volley, which astounded the coach.
The coach confirmed that: “We also didn’t gve Osimhen the right service, but he did well to find spaces anyways.”
“There is everything in that goal, techical quality, charater to juggle the ball between two defenders, then he hit this rocket into the net, as he really has got a cannon for a foot.”
“He has physical strength, accepts the challenge, tracks back to help, is good in the air. He is a complete package”, the Italian confirmed.
Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Simeone scored for Napoli in their 2-1 victory over Roma, impressing even Jose Mourinho.
