Victor Osimhen has revealed that he held talks with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger over a move to the North Lodon club in 2015 but ultimately decided that German club Wolfsburg was the best place for him to continue his development.
Osimhen, 21, linked up with Wolfsburg in 2016 after catching the eye during Nigeria’s run to FIFA U-17 World Cup glory in Chile the previous summer.
The young forward however failed to make an impact at the club, and was eventually sold to Belgian outfit Charleroi.
He joined French Ligue 1 outfit Lille last summer and has scored 18 goal with six assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.
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Speculation over Osimhen’s future with Lille looks set to intensify in the coming months and he has now admitted that he could have already been on the books of one of the world’s biggest clubs if he’d opted for a different path as a teenager.
“I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal,” he told the Independent.
“I had a lot of options. Barcelona, Inter, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and the rest.
“Arsenal was a good option but it wasn’t the best at the time. I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18.
“I wanted to go to a place where I had time to invest in my game and improve physically. Wolfsburg showed me that possibility.”
Osimhen is close friends with Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo – who is currently on loan at Old Trafford from Shanghai Shenhua – and says his compatriot has advised him over a possible switch to the Premier League.
The Lille talisman concedes that the English top flight holds great appeal to him, but he does not wish to end up on the bench after getting a taste of regular first-team football in France.
“Of course, one day I’d like to play for a big club in England,” Osimhen added.
“I’ve spoken to Odion [Ighalo] about it. He gave me very good advice, he’s a legend and a big brother. My goal is to play at one of the biggest clubs in the world but now I’m very happy in Lille.
“My priority is to play a lot of games. Signing for a big club and being on the bench is not exciting for me.”
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