Osimhen reveals how his idol Drogba has been ‘so helpful’ to his career

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has revealed how Chelsea legend Didier Drogba helped shape his career by constantly giving him advise.

The Nigeria international is currently one of the hottest strikers in the world as he leads the Serie A Golden Boot race with 21 goals as his club Napoli are on the verge of ending their 33-year wait for an Italian top-flight title.

Osimhen, who considers Drogba his childhood hero, has been getting tips from the former Ivory Coast striker who keeps in touch with him regularly.

“I have always supported Drogba and I have huge love and admiration for him,” Osimhen told the UK’s Dailymail.

“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 Under-17 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.”

Osimhen then revealed how they have kept in touch with Drogba by exchanging ideas via social media as he shapes his young career.

“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,” he added.

“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.

“He's a hero in his country, he's played to the highest level, won a lot and made African youngsters dream. He's a busy man but whenever he sees my messages on Instagram he replies immediately. It's a great feeling.”

The 24-year-old overcame a tough childhood to succeed as a professional footballer, making a name for himself when he claimed the Golden Boot Award as Nigeria won the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

He earned a move to Bundesliga side Wolfsburg but struggled to make an impact after failing to settle in Germany before switching to Belgium with Charleroi, where he scored 12 goals in one season, to earn a transfer to French club Lille.

Osimhen lasted just one year at Lille but he had done enough to convince Napoli to shell out €70 million, to make him the most expensive African player in July 2020, and he has become a crowd favourite in Naples, netting 53 games in 91 games so far.