Victor Osimhen, the Serie A top scorer: «My daughter is a unique emotion, Kvara is the ideal partner and friend. Spalletti? A father off the field, but at work he is strict and he also gets very angry ». The Premier? “He tempts me, but now I’m only thinking about Napoli”
Beyond the mask are two large eyes. There is the sly look of the young Victor, 24 years old and top scorer in Serie A. Victor is Osimhen, the Nigerian center forward from Napoli. Strength and heart of the team that dominates the Serie A championship, also for the number of his goals. Eyes that smile, despite everything and everyone. (“How much have I been through,” he says without feeling sorry for himself). Which are reflected in other eyes. «Less big but wonderful. And she is beautiful, I look at her and I am moved. I caress it and I get shivers». Osimhen is a striker, of course. But beyond the field is the father: Hailey True was born in Naples seven months ago. “And she changed my life.”
Osimhen, will you dedicate the Napoli championship to her?
«She is my baby, a unique emotion. She is the light of my life, the little woman to teach the value of love, respect for others, rich or poor, black or white. Hailey will rejoice with me and with all the fans, she, like us, deserves to see Napoli cross the finish line.”
Which could also be double: Scudetto and Champions. Do you think about it among yourselves?
«We are in March and there is still time ahead. But, yeah, I want it all, we want it all. We are giving our lives to achieve this success. We deserve it, we are sacrificing everything to achieve it. We’re almost there, but woe to get distracted right now. Our mentality is always the same, in Italy and in Europe: impose ourselves and win».
Your secret? All in all you are a young and revolutionized team last summer.
“We take care of each other, at all times. Each gives the other charge, and if someone is in difficulty we are ready to lend him a hand. There is solidarity, difficult to explain to those who don’t experience it. Everyone’s conviction serves the community. And when you believe it you feel strong, when you are strong you win. Then there is the coach who represents the brain of the team. Does he know what I think about? If I had to be a coach one day, I’d like to be like him.”
Like him?
«A father off the field: ready to listen and to suggest advice on anything. In training Spalletti is very strict, rigorous. He also gets angry. Especially with those who don’t give 100 percent.”
And does it happen with her?
(A laugh escapes him) «Sure. It has happened in the past and will probably happen again. There’s one thing that drives him crazy: when he sees that one doesn’t do what he can. He is the first to give his best, he demands the same thing from us ».
Do you feel strong?
«Of course the head is hard! If I hadn’t had it like this and hadn’t been convinced I would have stopped. Someone in the past said that I would never make a fortune in football. And instead, here I am to demonstrate with facts that it is possible. If you want, you can. No one has ever chosen for me, even I came to Naples because that’s how I decided».
And it didn’t go so well at first: injuries, Covid, the controversy over some posts on social media. Holidays in Nigeria.
«Yes actually I’ve had a few, but I didn’t care too much about people and what they said even before I arrived. Maybe every negative thing served as an extra stimulus. I am a believer and God tested me. In times of difficulty, the club has always supported me. Today I am happy but not satisfied. More can be done. For Naples and its people.’
What was the moment when you said to yourself: is the Scudetto possible?
“Before we even started winning. And there is a preserved photo that testifies to the moment. It was summer and after a fairly hard training I was talking to Anguissa. I said to him: Frank, you know that our team is strong and we can really try to win the Scudetto. He was skeptical and I convinced him. Spalletti approaches and asks us what we are talking about. I tell him, he looks at me and says: if your teammates are convinced, as you are, yes we can try. This is how our beautiful story was born, made up of matches, training sessions, men who don’t spare themselves. Made of leaders.”
What do you mean?
«We are all a bit of a leader, then there are those who talk more to the team and those who don’t. But everyone assumes their share of responsibility.
The strongest opponent in Italy?
«We respect everyone, but we are convinced that we are the strongest. And if it happens… you will see».
What?
“A surprise, that’s all I say.”
Can you tell us instead if the Premier League tries it?
«I think it is an ambition of all players. And who knows, one day… Right now, I assure you, it doesn’t even cross my mind. It would distract me from a beautiful season. Only Naples. Point”.
His goals are sometimes surprising, unconventional. Instinct, head, luck or just technique?
“Head. On the pitch, I watch everything. I run and watch. You have to decide in a second if you don’t want to give time to the defender. Let’s say I’m quick thinking!».
With Kvara perfect understanding.
«Because there was empathy from the first moment. He is very strong, but also a golden boy. This matters to me.”
What if he wasn’t a footballer?
«I would have been a doctor, as my father wanted».
More study and less money!
“The money helped my family: seven of us lived in one room! With the first money I bought a house».
His idol?
«Drogba».
Who is Osimhen in private?
«An ordinary boy, who does what he feels like, takes criticism and compliments. I would go out more with my daughter, but between autographs and photos I would take away her time. She comes before me. First of all”.
March 2, 2023 (change March 2, 2023 | 07:42)
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