Osimhen outlines benefits of having Drogba as his idol

Osimhen has been one of Europe's best and most consistent forwards this season and has plundered 21 goals and four assists in 26 games in all competitions for Napoli, earning him the “Best Foreign Athlete in Italy” award.

Speaking after the award was bestowed on him, Osimhen named his football idol and spelt out the benefits of watching the Chelsea legend while developing his skillset.

Osimhen said, “I grew up watching Didier Drogba. I was advised by one of my big brothers to try to watch and learn one or two things from him, and also add to my game.

“And ever since I have chosen Didier Drogba as my role model, it’s been really helpful for me.”

He confessed to watching the ex-Chelsea man while he played in the Premier League, taking many cues from the Ivorian’s incredible feats in England and improving his own quality based on the lessons he learnt from watching Drogba.

“Of course, I watched a lot of his games before he retired, and I could see that there were a lot of things, extraordinary, that he has been doing during his playing days, and I think putting that into my game has really helped me a lot,” Osimhen said.

The 24-year-old forward has also credited his idol with giving him enough strength to overcome the toughest period in his career, where he suffered injuries, illnesses, and a loss in form, saying, “Even though I went through a series of injuries and hard times in football, I think this has really helped me to become the kind of player I am today.”

Osimhen also mentioned some other players who inspired him to reach the levels he has reached this season, including Drogba’s contemporary and rival, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o.

Still speaking after his “Best Foreign Athlete in Italy” award, Osimhen said, “Of course, I also draw inspiration from Lewandowski, and Samuel Eto’o when he was playing.

“These players, the kind of success they have achieved, is what I want to achieve also and even surpass them.”

Osimhen is on the verge of achieving immortality with Napoli as he leads the Serie A scoring charts and could end up an Italian champion at the end of the season if Napoli maintain their current trajectory.