Victor Osimhen friends into the display screen in entrance of him earlier than giving a thumbs-up and a cheery wave. 

It is effectively into the night in Lagos however fortunately for Sportsmail, the Nigerian famous person has been simpler to pin down than he’s for the unfortunate centre-backs tasked with stopping him each week.

A shining gentle of the European sport this season, the Napoli ahead is an idol in his native Nigeria and is predicted to be one of many hottest properties of the summer time switch market after his beautiful performances took his membership to the brink of their first League title because the days of Diego Maradona.

The 24-year-old is now valued at a minimal £150million and mentioned not too long ago it was his ‘dream’ to play within the Premier League. 

Osimhen is completely happy in Italy however with Manchester United and Chelsea amongst those that could also be trying for a specialist centre-forward on the finish of the season, he can be prime of many lists.

As he settles down in his lodge room for his first main interview with a UK media outlet, Osimhen delivers an enchanting account of his journey to changing into the most effective strikers on this planet.

Growing up in troublesome circumstances within the Lagos suburbs, Osimhen bought oranges and bottled water on the town’s streets to make ends meet, and noticed his native soccer pitches shut down.

He moved to German membership Wolfsburg aged 17 and located the separation from family and friends ‘traumatising’. 

After gradual enchancment at Charleroi in Belgium and French membership Lille, Osimhen’s profession has taken off in Italy, the place he has 25 objectives in 29 video games in all competitions this season.

With Napoli so near glory, Osimhen is now just a little extra cautious now when requested about English soccer however his inspiration is without doubt one of the icons of the Premier League period – Didier Drogba.

Mention the previous Chelsea striker’s identify and Osimhen turns into a pure fan once more. 

‘I’ve at all times supported Drogba and I’ve big love and admiration for him,’ he gushes. 

‘I keep in mind when he scored the equaliser within the 2012 Champions League Final, an incredible header, and the best way I celebrated was as if I had scored the objective. My associates knew I used to be obsessive about Drogba.

‘When I scored 10 objectives and received the Golden Boot on the Under-17 World Cup in 2015, one of many Nigeria employees confirmed me a tweet from Drogba. It mentioned ‘Congratulations Victor. I want you all the very best for the long run.’

‘I used to be shocked. I by no means believed somebody like Didier Drogba would tweet these phrases to a younger aspiring striker. It gave me an entire new motivation to succeed.

‘Trust me, he has been so useful. One morning final 12 months I awoke and checked my Instagram, and located messages to me from him, complimenting me, however saying I nonetheless had a protracted approach to go. It’s superb to keep up a correspondence with him.

‘I attempt to mannequin my sport on his and there are a whole lot of issues I can take from his sport and add to my very own, so there’s nothing higher for a younger participant.

‘He’s a hero in his nation, he is performed to the very best degree, received so much and made African children dream. He’s a busy man however every time he sees my messages on Instagram he replies instantly. It’s an excellent feeling.’

Doubtless Osimhen now has the identical standing amongst Africa’s younger forwards. And if not each Premier League follower is acquainted with his work, they quickly can be. 

He might not be fairly as prolific as Erling Haaland – who’s? – however Osimhen is arguably a extra full No 9. He is technically excellent, highly effective within the air, fast, athletic and clever.

Wearing a protecting masks on the pitch after breaking his cheekbone and eye socket in November 2021, the 24-year-old even appears like a superhero. 

But in the course of our interview, he’s much more like Clark Kent, along with his unaffected, simple method and interesting dialog.

The thought of Osimhen v Haaland duel for the Premier League Golden Boot is thrilling but Osimhen reveals that the pair already share nice mutual respect.

‘I play with Leo Ostigard at Napoli, who is excellent associates with Haaland and performs for Norway with him,’ Osimhen explains. 

‘I’m a fan of the Bundesliga so I’ve adopted him for some time and each weekend he appears to attain two, three, 4 objectives.

‘Ostigard spoke to me so much about him, how arduous he educated, then at some point he mentioned: ‘If you need, I can carry you his shirt.’ I mentioned: ‘Of course, bro.’

‘So he spoke to Haaland, who additionally requested for my shirt, so we swapped them via Ostigard. He is without doubt one of the better of his era so to be in contrast with him – and thought of the most effective strikers on this planet – solely evokes me to do extra.

‘I can rating 4 objectives in a sport, I can present extra assists, I can do many extra issues as I’ve the standard to execute them. I must work even tougher after which on the finish of my profession I can hopefully look again and say sure, I did some fantastic issues.

‘Everyone watches the EPL (Premier League), it’s actually aggressive, however Serie A can also be one of many strongest leagues. When Cristiano Ronaldo performed there, he mentioned the identical factor. I’m actually completely happy to be there.

‘If we will win the title for Napoli, the town won’t ever be the identical once more. When you go to the town, the followers have tears of their eyes. They have not received the league since Maradona’s time (1990) and they’re so near realising this dream.

‘Sometimes they arrive to the gamers’ homes to indicate their love, as late as 2am. Naples bleeds for soccer and I’ve imagined many occasions how the town will explode if we will win the Scudetto (league title). We have possibilities to go far within the Champions League, too.’

Osimhen’s rise is all of the extra spectacular contemplating the adversity he has skilled. His was not the graceful path of the golden prospect who’s taken into the academy of a prime membership in his early years and progresses into the primary crew.

There have been sacrifices all through his story which make at this time’s success all of the sweeter, as he rubs shoulders with Nigerian greats like Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu, Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amunike. 

Osimhen’s type of play is unselfish but he wouldn’t be human if he weren’t attracted by private objectives, with the African Footballer of the Year award – received by Drogba in 2006 and 2009 – notably outstanding in his considering.

‘I began taking part in soccer at seven or eight however I used to be not likely into it as I used to be nonetheless going with my sisters to promote oranges,’ he recollects. ‘I knew I used to be good at it however then at a sure level I realised I needed to take it critically.

‘They closed down the pitch at my main faculty and we had a whole lot of gifted gamers, however most of them went to get jobs. After that I needed to stroll for an hour to coach at a secondary faculty exterior my neighborhood.

‘At the identical time I used to be promoting bottled water within the Lagos visitors, making an attempt to assist my household nevertheless I may. I had trials for the Nigeria Under-17 aspect, that means a five-hour journey to (capital metropolis) Abuja.

‘Initially I did not make the grade and after I came upon, I had tears in my eyes. But I saved pushing and ultimately I used to be chosen. The Under-17 World Cup was a turning level for me.

‘I’m not going to lie. It can be my dream to be African Footballer of the Year. I used to be on the ceremony in 2015, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang received the award. As an African you dream of this prize and perhaps I can win.

‘My first expertise of European soccer, at Wolfsburg, was troublesome. But it paved the best way for what I’ve performed since. I do know that if I alter international locations, I’ll adapt shortly.

‘I’m not the kind of participant who folds underneath strain and I attempt to keep calm in each state of affairs. The season goes very well. I’ve placing up some superb numbers and I’m pleased with what I’ve achieved – however I’m not performed but.’