Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr believes Victor Osimhen has what it takes to get to the level of former Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba , reports Completesports.com.
Osimhen enjoyed a successful debut campaign with Ligue 1 club Lille, netting 18 times and grabbing six assists in 38 games across all competitions.
The 21-year-old was also voted the club’s player of the year and also picked up the prize for the Best African Player in the French League.
Many have compared the pacy forward to Drogba who was one of the most fearsome strikers during his active days.
Drogba scored 100 goals in 226 league appearances for Chelsea between 2004 and 2012.
Read Also: Rohr: Napoli Perfect For Osimhen
He is also Ivory Coast’s all-time top scorer with 65 goals in 105 appearances.
” I don’t know, it’s an important comparison, but I don’t rule it out,”Rohr told Radio Punto Nuovo when asked about the similarities between Osimhen and Drogba.
“He has everything he needs to become a player of that level. Victor is someone who always wants to grow and improve, technically and tactically.
“Then he is a smart boy, intelligent and I repeat: he has everything it takes to get to the level of Didier Drogba.”
Osimhen, who is expected to leave Lille this summer is currently negotiating a move to Serie A club Napoli.
By Adeboye Amosu
7 Comments
We’ve always produced talents who had the potential to produce Drogba-esque moments. Unfortunately they lacked focus, determination and the right attitude.
In the Italian league, Osimhen would find the right platform hopefully to take his career to the next level. The league is one that still emphasizes on techniques and modest pace with less media attention on Africans.
If he can score double digits in the league for two consecutive seasons, then a move to a top top European club would be inevitable.
Good talk man
Mr. Rohr should be careful of his words.
He played the game before and he knew how its works.
It’s good to aviser his players but sometimes, it’s better to say something like this in private.
Saying this in public is going to put much pressure on Osimeh or any of his players.
Amunike that discovered Osimeh haven’t said anything. Oga, should watch his words.
My colleagues and I that recommended Aribo, Ejaria, Onuachu, Dessers and many other players to the national team can not talk like this. It’s too early to even mentions Drogba’s name when taking about Osimeh. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Lol….Oga recommender thank you o…..if no be you, we 4 no even get player for super eagles……..mtchw….Pathological liar!
Please, no hard words with the Mungo Park of Nigerian players.
Hehehehe….@Omo9ja, You have switched from “discovering” to “recommending” players….LMAO. The way you have been recommending Onuachu to Rohr since over a decade ago….LMAO. You go tell us whether na you be Tunde Adelakun…..LMAO.
“…It’s too early to even mentions Drogba’s name when taking about Osimeh…” But the press in Belgium, France and England has been doing so since his days at Chaleroi. Lolz. Even Amuneke has been talking up both Osimhen and Chukwueze and how they can reach the level of great players in the near future. But Rohr should watch his words…? Lolz. Orisirisi.
All I see in Victor is a man who is hungry for success and he’s not stopping one moment. Italian league is one of the toughest in the world and I’m sure he’ll build more of his striker’s instincts there . I hope from there tat he will one day move on to another club where he will be able to get more laurels and accolades . Perhaps Real Madrid . Who knows.
Comparing him to Drogba is quite commendable but from the moment I saw Victor in the under 17, I feel he’s much more. He is his own man . I wish him the very best