03.09.2024 11:21
Galatasaray brought their new signing Victor Osimhen to Istanbul last night. We have compiled the heartbreaking life story of the star, who grew up in difficult conditions in Nigeria and started selling water by running after cars barefoot after losing his mother at a young age...
Super League giant Galatasaray has reached a happy ending in the transfer of Victor Osimhen from Napoli. The star player arrived in Istanbul last night to sign the contract.
LOST HIS MOTHER AT A YOUNG AGE
The life of the Nigerian player, who is the fourth most expensive forward in the world with a market value of 100 million euros, has been filled with great difficulties. Osimhen, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1998 as the youngest of six siblings, lost his mother at a young age. Born into a very poor family, Victor Osimhen felt the burden of life at an early age.
HE SOLD WATER BAREFOOT
Osimhen, who spent his childhood in a makeshift house in the Olusosun area of Oregun/Ojota in Lagos State, sold water to make a living and support his family budget. Trying to sell water by running after cars barefoot, young Osimhen also had a passion for football, which he saw as a solution to rescue his family from poverty. In his spare time, Osimhen played football like any other child, and he went to the Olusosun storage area, where thousands of tons of garbage were collected and people searched for things to use or sell, to look for shoes.
MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AT CHARLEROI
Osimhen, who did not fall behind in his love for football, which he saw as his salvation, and wanted to be like his idol Didier Drogba and was inspired by the generous football player Sadio Mane, joined the Ultimate Strikers Academy, where he caught the attention of the country's U-17 coach Emmanuel Amuneke and scouts. Victor Osimhen, who made good use of the short opportunity given to him, became the top scorer with 10 goals in the U17 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards, and his fairytale journey began. Osimhen, who was named "Young Player of the Year" by CAF in 2015, went to Bundesliga team Wolfsburg in 2017, but things did not go as planned in Germany. One year later, Victor Osimhen was loaned to Belgian team Charleroi, where he made a name for himself by scoring 20 goals and making 4 assists in 36 matches.
REACHED THE TOP AT NAPOLI
Charleroi sold Osimhen, whom they bought for 3.5 million euros in 2019, to French team Lille for 22.4 million euros a month later. Osimhen, who won the 2020 Prix Marc-Vivien Foe award given to the best African player with his goals and performance in France, was awarded the Player of the Season award at Lille. Victor Osimhen, who attracted attention in the European market with his performance during his 1-season experience in France, transferred to Napoli for 77.50 million euros in September 2020, which would go down in history. In his first season in Italy, Osimhen could only score 10 goals in all matches due to shoulder injury, suspensions, and contracting COVID-19.
Osimhen's brightest season was the 2022-2023 season, in which they would achieve the championship. Osimhen, who scored 26 goals in 32 matches in Serie A, won the top scorer title and scored the championship goal in Napoli's 1-1 draw against Udinese, ending their 33-year wait for the title.
The 1.87-meter tall striker, who broke Samuel Eto'o's record and became the African player with the most goals in a single Italian championship season, reached a total of 76 goals and surpassed George Weah, who had 46 goals, becoming the African player with the most goals in Serie A. Victor Osimhen was named "African Footballer of the Year" at the 2023 CAF Awards, becoming the first Nigerian to receive this honor since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
DETAILS OF THE NAPOLI CRISIS REVEALED
Victor Osimhen, who had negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain throughout the summer transfer period and wanted to go to the French team, could not realize his PSG dream due to the clubs' failure to reach an agreement. Despite the agreement between the clubs, Oshimen, who rejected Chelsea's offer, could not go to Al Ahli, where he would earn 40 million euros annually, due to the demand for an additional 5 million euros on top of the 80 million euros. After a tense conversation with Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis and Sporting Director Giovanni Manna, Osimhen was excluded from the squad. Following the incidents, Victor Osimhen was excluded from Antonio Conte's team and the number 9 jersey was given to new signing Romelu Lukaku.