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Victor Osimhen: “I told Christophe Galtier I would score 2 goals on my Lille debut… I did.”

Speaking in an interview with France Football, Nigerian international and Napoli centre-forward Victor Osimhen took part in a wide-ranging discussion about his career challenges to date and what he wants to achieve in the future.

It is clear that this season, Osimhen has joined the conversation as one of the best centre-forwards in world football, as he leads the Serie A goal-scoring charts and has become the attacking centre-piece in Luciano Spalletti’s Neapolitan side that is currently on course for league title glory. The club last tasted Serie A glory in 1990 – 33 years ago.

Osimhen, who was brought to Ligue 1 by current PSG Sporting Advisor Luís Campos, has emerged as the priority target for the Portuguese transfer supremo to bring to the French capital club this summer, with preliminary talks already underway. Owing to FFP concerns, any deal to bring Osimhen to PSG will require Napoli to accept some players in part exchange, as the Italian club’s president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, values the Nigerian marksman at over €100m.

In this interview with France Football, 24-year-old, Osimhen reflected on his arrival in Lille in 2019, where he stayed for just one season.

“Ah, joining Lille… It was yet another step up. Christophe Galtier was the coach. On day one, he asked me how many goals I was going to score on my debut. I told him I was going to score two. He said to me: “Ah yes, you’re not kidding around!” Then the first week went really well, in the superb facilities at Luchin, with that French gang… (Jonathan) Ikoné, (Jonathan) Bamba, (Mike) Maignan. They created such a fantastic atmosphere, my God! (Laughs.) I felt like I had belonged to this team for weeks. As I got out of the bus [ahead of the first game], (José) Fonte said to me: “If you really score two goals, I’ll take you to a restaurant.” I replied: “OK, captain!” He gave me an assist on the first goal, Nantes equalised, then I scored the winning goal in the 80th minute. It was such an adrenaline rush… I had never felt that in a big stadium before. And then, match after match, everything fell into place.”

James Thorpe | GFFN

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