Nigeria and Napoli star Victor Osimhen has revealed the impact that legendary Ivorian Didier Drogba has had on his career.
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Very few forwards in European football have been more prolific than Osimhen during the 2022/23 campaign, with the 24-year-old having found the back of the net 25 times in 29 appearances in all competitions for Napoli.
With the Nigerian being one of the most feared marksmen in all of Europe, the Lagos native has garnered a lot of attention from the Premier League's biggest clubs.
In a recent interview, he was reluctant to speak on recent links to Manchester United and Chelsea, but was not shy in lauding one of his idols, and arguably the best African to ply his trade in English football's top division, in Drogba.
"I have always supported Drogba, and I have huge love and admiration for him," he told the Daily Mail.
"I remember when he scored the equaliser in the 2012 Champions League final, an amazing header, and the way I celebrated was as though I had scored the goal. My friends knew I was obsessed with Drogba.
"When I scored 10 goals and won the Golden Boot at the U17 World Cup in 2015, one of the Nigeria staff showed me a tweet from Drogba. It said: 'Congratulations Victor. I wish you all the best for the future.'
"I was shocked. I never believed someone like Didier Drogba would tweet those words to a young aspiring striker. It gave me a whole new motivation to succeed.
"Trust me, he has been so helpful. One morning last year I woke up and checked my Instagram, and found messages to me from him, complimenting me, but saying I still had a long way to go. It's amazing to be in contact with him.
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"I try to model my game on his and there are a lot of things I can take from his game and add to my own, so there is nothing better for a young player."
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