Naples: Victor Osimhen hints at farewell – review of VfL Wolfsburg

“I’ve already decided”

The year 2023 was a title-rich one for Victor Osimhen: champion with SSC Napoli, most valuable player and the first African top scorer in Serie A as well as Italy and Africa Footballer of the Year. While he is far from fighting for the championship with the Azzurri this season, the 25-year-old wants to extend his winning streak with Nigeria at the current Africa Cup of Nations and secure a fourth title for the “Super Eagles”. Despite extending his contract last December, Osimhen’s future seems more open than ever in the summer.

“Now I’m at Napoli, I’ve signed a new contract and I’m enjoying my time there,” said the goalscorer in an interview with “CBS Sports“And emphasized that everything was going well. However, Osimhen also hinted nebulously: “I have already decided on the end of the season, I know exactly what I want to do in my career.” An exit clause is said to be integrated into his new contract, which amounts to a sum of between 120 million and amounts to 130 million euros.

“I already have a plan and know what I want to do next,” said Osimhen, who, after a difficult start to his professional career at VfL Wolfsburg via RSC Charleroi and LOSC Lille, signed with Napoli for 75 million euros in the summer of 2020 landed. To date, the SSC has scored 67 goals in 119 appearances. Osimhen is still silent about his exact plan: “Now I want to finish the season well, relax with my daughter, think about my life and then finally announce the decision that I have already made.”

Last summer, Osimhen resisted the financial temptations of Al-Hilal from the Saudi Pro League, and most recently he was traded primarily to top English clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool. “There are rumors circulating about me linking me to the Premier League. That seems to be the case when you are one of the most sought-after strikers in the world,” said Osimhen. “The Premier League is one of the largest and strongest leagues in the world.”

In an interview with the “GuardianThe attacker, however, expressed a more defensive tone about his future. “I have to keep my contract,” said Osimhen, who is tied to Napoli until 2026. “Whatever happens in the summer, everyone will know. Now I’m at the Africa Cup of Nations and I’m concentrating on that.” After winning the U17 World Cup and U23 Africa Cup in 2015, he wants to finally lift a trophy with the senior national team.

Naples striker Osimhen remembers a difficult start at VfL Wolfsburg

“I want to win something with this great team. I want to give Nigerians something they will remember. I will give everything to come home with the trophy,” explained Osimhen, who has already qualified for the round of 16, who knows that his football career could have turned out completely differently – and very badly. His move to Wolfsburg in 2017 did not go according to plan. He did not succeed in asserting himself with the “Wolves”. In the end, Osimhen was just disappointed and frustrated.

“There was a time when I spoke to my former agent and told him that I was ready to go to a third or fourth division team in Germany as I just wanted to play,” Osimhen recalled. “My whole life has been a struggle, but I always prevailed.” He remained goalless in 16 games for Wolfsburg. “Whatever happened there, I take full responsibility for it. It was my decision to go to Wolfsburg to try to improve because I knew I was still developing after the World Cup in Chile. I had Mario Gómez there, Divock Origi too. I had to learn from these people.”

The time at VfL was not easy. “I can’t lie: it was very draining at the beginning. I was the top scorer at the U17 World Cup and was voted second best player in the tournament, but as I watched my career decline and people said all sorts of things about me… I know what kind of player I am and what quality I have. I knew that just one season would change my life forever,” said Osimhen, who experienced that moment on loan at RSC Charleroi in 2018/19.

“I was rejected by two Belgian clubs before I had the opportunity to play on loan at Charleroi,” he continued. He scored 20 goals in 36 games and has scored double figures every season since. “My move to Belgium (…) was the turning point in my life. I owe my success to the president of the club and the people of Charleroi who put their love and trust in a 19-year-old boy who was trying to establish himself.”

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