Victor Osimhen is a Didier Drogba fan who played like his idol in Ligue 1 for Lille in his very first season in the French top flight — ligue1.com gives you five things you should know about the prolific Nigeria international.
1) 'No' to Arsenal, 'Ja' to Wolfsburg
Osimhen's 13 goals in his maiden Ligue 1 campaign was a tally bettered only by Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé, Wissam ben Yedder of Monaco and Lyon's Moussa Dembélé. No wonder he is a man in demand, but it's not the first time the Nigerian striker has been a transfer target of the world's biggest clubs.
As a youngster at the Ultimate Strikers Academy in his home town of Lagos, Osimhen shot to prominence as he top scored in helping his nation win the 2015 U17 World Cup.
WATCH: Victor Osimhen starts his Lille career with a bang
"I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament ended and he wanted me to come to Arsenal," he said. "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."
And so the 2008-09 Bundesliga champions won the race for his signature with Osimhen eventually moving to Germany in January 2017.
2) Gomez and Origi as role models
"This the best place for me to learn and develop because my heart is here with Wolfsburg," said Osimhen, brimful of optimism upon his arrival at the Volkswagen Arena. "The club's plan for my career is very encouraging and I believe with God on my side I can grow to become one of the best players in the world."
His season at Lille — in which he also starred for the 2010-11 French double winners in the UEFA Champions League — suggests he still might become a global superstar, but he laid only the thinnest of foundations at Wolfsburg.
A knee injury limited him to just 45 Bundesliga minutes in his first half-season in Germany while he appeared only a further 12 times in the following campaign, and did not score a single league goal.
Yet his time there was not entirely wasted as he was given a front-row seat from which he could watch former Germany international Mario Gomez and ex-Lille and current Liverpool forward Divock Origi go about their work in front of goal.
"I can learn a lot from them — even when I am on the bench, in the stands or watching on television," said Osimhen at the time. "I've learnt a lot, and I need to learn more. I remain confident that Wolfsburg is still the right place for my career."
3) Confidence boost in Belgium
While Osimhen was convinced he could make it at Wolfsburg, the club decided he needed time on the pitch elsewhere. He might have joined Zulte Waregem or Club Brugge in summer 2018 but for a bout of malaria — it was a blessing in disguise for both Osimhen and Charleroi, the modest Belgian club where his career took off.
Seven goals in his first 12 games made Belgian football sit up and take notice of the Zebras' powerful number 45, and he won the club's player of the year award having plundered 19 goals in 34 domestic appearances to put a smile on everyone's face, most notably his own.
"My confidence level was very low at some point and what going out on loan to Charleroi has done for me is unexplainable," Osimhen told BBC Sport. "It was tough in Germany because of the high expectations — some people started doubting me and also pushed me to start doubting myself as well.
"The football in Belgium has helped, I also have a wonderful group of players around me and the coaching crew have been great with me. As a young player, you hear people comparing you to other stars who emerged from the Under-17 World Cup and never fulfilled their potential.
"But now at Charleroi I have comfortably found my happiness again, and I thank everyone in Belgium and at Wolfsburg for the opportunity and support."
4) Lille's new Nigerian star
Peter Odemwingie and Victor Enyeama had already done well at Lille. Osimhen made it a hat-trick of Nigerian successes after he penned a five-year deal at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in summer 2019.
"Lille is a very good club that has a quality project and includes high-class players, even more in recent years," he told the club website. "Great Nigerian players have also played here. I would like to join their lineage and follow their footsteps. I am very happy to be here and to join this great club. I am still young, I am learning and I think that this project suits me perfectly to continue to progress."
After his spectacular debut with both goals in the opening-day win over FC Nantes, Osimhen certainly did that. While his talent did the damage to the Canaries, it was the words of Lille coach Christophe Galtier that enabled him to hit the ground running.
"When I first arrived in Lille, he spoke to me and told me I'd be important for the team. Before I'd even kicked a ball. He told me he'd seen a lot of my games with Charleroi. For a young player like me, there's no better motivation.
"He's been marvellous with me since I've been here. Even if I don't play well, he speaks to me, explains my mistakes and tries to help me improve in training sessions. I try to repay on the pitch what he gives me every day and I want to make him happy with my performances. He's one of the architects of my career and I'll never forget that."
5) Tough start
While Galtier has played a major role in shaping Osimhen the player, Victor the person was formed by his parents in one of Lagos' poor neighbourhoods.
One of three brothers and with four sisters, the whole family lived in one room before his mother died when Osimhen was just six years old.
"My dad lost his job just after that. It was the end of the world for us. Where I come from, it's difficult to believe in the future because your daily life is so bad. No-one can help you because the people have nothing," said Osimhen, who sold bottles of water on the street as a kid to try and help the family make ends meet.
"I can now give my family everything they want. Since I turned professional, I've quickly been able to get them out of trouble and give them the life they deserve. It's the greatest success of my life."
