‘They gave me chance to write my story’ – Osimhen reflects on difficult journey to stardom

Victor Osimhen has revealed how a move to Belgian Pro League outfit, Sporting Charleroi helped shape his career.

Osimhen was one of the stars on parade as Nigeria won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015.

The striker scored 10 goals in seven matches to scoop the Golden Boot award.

Bundesliga side VFL Wolfsburg won the race to sign him two years later but he couldn’t hit the height expected at the club.

Osimhen failed to register a goal in 14 appearances for Wolfsburg.

A move to Charleroi however proved to be the turning point in his career.

The 25-year-old was loaned to Charleroi in the 2018/19 season and he scored 12 goals in 25 league appearances.

The move was made permanent and he was sold to Ligue 1 outfit, Lille the following season.

Osimhen spent one season with Lille before linking up with Serie A club, Napoli.

At Napoli , he developed into one of the best strikers in the world.

He helped Napoli win the Scudetto for the first time in over three decades last season, scoring 26 goals in 32 league outings.

“Yes, I remember the key moment was when I signed for Charleroi in Belgium,” Osimhen was quoted by Tutto Napoli.

“I highlight this transfer because before, when I moved to Wolfsburg, I really wanted to start playing obviously, but I also wanted to learn because I moved as a young striker and I needed time to transform into the player and man I wanted to become.

“At that time, I was able to play with great players like Draxler, Schurrle, Guilavogui, Mario Gomez also came, for me it was an opportunity to learn a thing or two from some of the greatest strikers of that period and so for me it was really a turning point for my career, even if things didn’t go so well.

“I then moved to Belgium to try and get more playing time but was rejected by two clubs there, before Charleroi finally offered me a contract. That was truly a key moment, the moment that made me the Victor Osimhen you see now, those people gave me the opportunity to write my story, to launch my career from the bottom. That was the moment I realized I would make it big in football.”