Victor Osimhen reflects on career turning point at Charleroi
Super Eagles of Nigeria and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has attributed a key moment in his career to his time at Belgian club Royal Charleroi.
After rising to prominence with his stellar performance at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, Osimhen made a high-profile move to German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg. Expectations were sky-high for the Nigerian striker following his impressive tally of ten goals during the youth tournament.
However, Osimhen’s career encountered a setback in Germany, where he struggled to secure regular first-team opportunities. It appeared that he might follow the trend of Nigerian players who excelled at junior levels but faltered thereafter.
In 2018, Osimhen’s fortunes took a positive turn when he joined Charleroi. Returning to his prolific form, he showcased his goal-scoring prowess with 20 goals and four assists in 36 appearances for the Belgian club.
This successful stint paved the way for subsequent moves to French Ligue 1 side Lille in 2019 and Napoli a year later.
Reflecting on his journey, the 25-year-old striker emphasized the significance of his time at Charleroi in shaping his career trajectory.
“I remember the key moment is when I signed for Charleroi in Belgium,” Osimhen shared in an interview with Tutto Napoli. “That was truly a key moment, the moment that made me the Victor Osimhen you see now.”
“I highlight this transfer because before, when I moved to Wolfsburg, I really wanted to start playing obviously, but I also wanted to learn because I moved as a young striker and I needed time to transform into the player and man I wanted to become.
“At that time, I was able to play with great players like Draxler, Schurrle, Guilavogui, Mario Gomez also came, for me it was an opportunity to learn a thing or two from some of the greatest strikers of that period and so for me it was really a turning point for my career, even if things didn’t go so well.
“I then moved to Belgium to try and get more playing time but was rejected by two clubs there, before Charleroi finally offered me a contract. That was truly a key moment, the moment that made me the Victor Osimhen you see now, those people gave me the opportunity to write my story, to launch my career from the bottom. That was the moment I realized I would make it big in football,” the CAF player of the year remarked.
As interest from top clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, and PSG continues to swirl around him, Osimhen’s career trajectory suggests that he is poised for further success, with the potential for a new chapter at a different club next season.
