Super Eagles boss, Eric Chelle has stated that Victor Osimhen is the best striker in the world and anticipates that top European clubs will show interest in him following his impressive goalscoring performance in the Turkish Super Lig last season.
The 26-year-old striker is set to return to Napoli after spending the past season on loan at Galatasaray, where he scored 37 goals in 41 matches and helped the Istanbul giants win the Super Lig title.
With only one year remaining on his contract at Napoli, Osimhen is expected to leave the club as he is not part of Antonio Conte’s plans after the Italian coach led the team to the Serie A title.
When asked about the striker’s uncertain future, his manager mentioned Manchester United as a potential destination.
“Victor is, for me, the best striker in the world,” Chelle told BBC Sport Africa. “It is difficult for him to prepare for this game because he has dealt with a lot of pressure this past season.”
He added, “The reality is that we are in a transfer window. During this time, a player like him may not be able to focus 100%. I need to protect him both physically and mentally because he might receive a transfer offer.”
Chelle mentioned clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Barcelona, or Real Madrid as possible futures for Osimhen. Notably, he did not mention a move to Saudi Arabia, which has also been speculated.
Chelle praised Victor Osimhen for his competitiveness, highlighting that he is Nigeria’s second-highest international scorer of all time, with 26 goals. Osimhen is just 11 goals away from Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37 goals for Nigeria. He also won the Under-17 World Cup with Nigeria in 2015, and the team aims to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“I have never seen a competitor like Osimhen,” Chelle remarked. “He wants to win everything during training. It’s incredible. After the training session ends, he wants to stay on the pitch and score repeatedly. I think even when he sleeps, he wants to score too.”