Victor Osimhen reflected on his serious face injury, the life-changing impact of Napoli and the genius of coach Luciano Spalletti.
The 24-year-old Nigerian striker has become a symbol of the Partenopei’s charge to the Scudetto this season, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists across 23 league games. He’s been equally decisive in the Champions League, netting four in five games as the team look to make history on the European stage.
Osimhen has attracted the attention of top clubs around Europe and could be sold by Napoli in the summer, although it would likely take a fee worth over €100m to secure his signature.
Speaking to France Football, Osimhen first looked back at his serious face injury and how he reacted when the doctors told him what came next.
“The club handled everything perfectly. Honestly, when Skriniar hit me, it was as if I had received a blow to the head. Ten minutes later I got up, they checked me and then took me straight to hospital.
“The surgeon was surprised, he said: ‘How can you stand up?’ The first thing I said to the doctors was: ‘What is it? Is it something serious? When will I play again?’ I think they really thought I was crazy at that moment!
“When they explained everything to me, I was practically morally destroyed. I told the doctor that I didn’t want surgery, but he explained that there was no other choice: my face had to be reconstructed.
“It was not an easy operation, they went from the mouth to the bone. I take this opportunity to thank all the doctors, they did an exceptional job. They are the ones who then created the mask.
“The side of the mask that protects the operated part is hard. If someone hits it, it hurts. Honestly, I’m not afraid anymore.”
He spoke about his time with now-Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier, who worked with him at Lille.
“At the first training session with Lille, he asked me how many goals I would score on my debut, I told him I would score two. We joked about it a bit, Fonte himself promised me that if I scored two, he would take me to a restaurant.
“Against Nantes, not only did I score two goals, but Fonte himself handed me an assist. The second goal came in the 80th minute, it was a crazy adrenalin rush. We were losing 1-0 and thanks to those two goals we managed to turn the game around.”
The Napoli star looked back at his childhood and how he achieved his dream.
“As a kid I only thought about running away from difficulties and troubles. But I am happy that I was born and grew up in Lagos, through hardship, to pursue my dreams.
“I am very attached to my land, I only left my city for football and I am going back to show everyone that you can cultivate your dreams. I laugh about it now, but it wasn’t easy, I received so many no’s, so many doors shut in my face.
“Charleroi gave me a new lease of life, after my first season in Belgium an Italian club already wanted me.”
Osimhen commented on how Napoli has changed his life since his arrival in 2020.
“Napoli changed my life. I had never seen anything like it. The whole city lives for the team, when I arrived I asked Mertens and Koulibaly if it was true, they said I hadn’t seen anything yet. The fans never worry me, even when they stop me in the street.
“They just want to give you affection. At the stadium they are incredible, and they help us. Some didn’t believe in me when I arrived in Italy, but the club and my teammates did. And this is fundamental. To explode I needed the right place, Naples is my place.”
Finally, Osimhen discussed his relationship with Spalletti.
“With Spalletti I have no choice. I score goals, but I’m also the first defender. Otherwise, he goes crazy. But he’s a genius, if we do what he tells us on the pitch, we can beat any opponent.
“I couldn’t be happier than I am today in Naples. And the city deserves it, it is Napoli that made me what I am.”