Napoli star Victor Osimhen has said he wants his career path to be as impactful and memorable as Didier Drogba’s was. The 25-year-old has always admired the Chelsea legend and has often described him as his role model.
Although Osimhen is still a long way from attaining Drogba’s legendary status, he has already become a cult hero at Napoli, where he helped the club to end their 33-year wait for the Serie A title last season.
The Nigeria international's career path, however, bears some semblance to that of his idol, who played in France before securing a dream move to Chelsea. While Osimhen’s stint in the Ligue 1 was followed by a transfer to Italy, the striker could still end up in England after being heavily linked with the Blues.
Victor Osimhen and Drogba have a very cordial relationship, with the pair even seen exchanging words and laughs during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in Ivory Coast earlier this year.
Victor Osimhen wants to follow Drogba’s footsteps
Drogba is widely regarded as one of the greatest African footballers ever, having stood out at both club and international levels in a career that spanned two decades. The 46-year-old may have had his breakthrough in France but it was in England, with Chelsea, that he made his name as a feared forward.
The former Ivory Coast international went on to win four Premier League titles with the Blues, four FA Cups, three League Cups and the UEFA Champions League. On an individual level, he also won the Premier League Golden Boot two times, and was voted African Footballer of the Year twice.
Victor Osimhen, who is the reigning CAF Footballer of the Year and finished eighth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or ranking, said he wants his career path to toe the same line as Drogba’s while describing the former Chelsea striker as one of the best in the history of football.
“Although the whole world knows, Didier Drogba is my role model. When I was young, I was introduced to his kind of football by a passionate fan who loves me a lot in the community,” Osimhen told Betsson Sport.
“He said I should watch Didier Drogba so I picked interest in seeing a lot of clips of Drogba and I learned one or two things from him to add to my own game. For me, it has really helped me a lot.
“I attribute a lot of my success to that man Didier Drogba because watching him alone, the drive, the passion he has for the game and everything, has made him one of the best strikers in the history of football. For me, this is the kind of path that I want to follow, to make sure that I’m remembered for what I’ve done for football.”
What Osimhen’s latest statement means for potential Chelsea move
Osimhen has been linked with several European clubs, with rumours suggesting the player has resolved to leave Napoli at the end of the season.
So far, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain have been mooted as the clubs that can afford the 25-year-old after Napoli reportedly inserted a €130 million release clause in the contract extension that Osimhen signed last December.
While recent reports maintain that PSG have overtaken Chelsea in the race for the Nigerian’s signature, Osimhen’s recent comments about wanting to follow in Drogba’s footsteps could be a hint on where he wants to go next.
Osimhen may not have specifically mentioned Drogba’s Chelsea career as what he wants to emulate, but he didn’t rule it out either in extolling his idol’s influence on him. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen where the Super Eagles forward will be playing next season, with Saudi Arabia also mooted as a potential destination for the sought-after striker.
