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Super eagle’s Osimhen signs contract with Napoli

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Italian side, Napoli have signed Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, the club confirmed in a statement on Friday.

“Welcome to Napoli, Victor, ” the club said on their Twitter handle while confirming the arrival of the Nigerian from French side, Lille.

“Can’t wait to put on this iconic jersey, thank you for the warm welcome @sscnapoli #forzanapolisempre,” the player tweeted following the confirmation of his switch.

Although no official fee was announced for the signing of the 21-year-old striker, several sources claim the deal is worth over $96 million (81.3m Euros) which makes the forward the most expensive African player of all time.

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Osimhen’s move to the Gli Azzurri trumps the prize Arsenal paid for Ivory Coast forward, Nicolas Pepe last year.

Last term, the former Charleroi (from where he moved to France) man scored 18 goals in all games for Lille and has been linked with a move to Naples in recent times.

His stellar showing for the French side saw him winning the Lille Player of the Season just as he made it to Ligue 1’s team for the 2019/2020 campaign.

The Edo-born footballer came into limelight after he helped the Nigerian U-17 team win the 2015 World Cup in Chile, scooping the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards.

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During the competition, he struck 10 times after which he bagged Africa’s Youth Player of the Year for 2015.

He immediately joined German side, Wolfsburg following his exploits in the cadet competition, turning down Arsenal of England.

Thereafter, he teamed up with Charleroi in Belgium, initially on loan, after a barren spell with the Bundesliga outfit.

Since his debut for the senior national team in June 2017, he has played 10 matches and bagged four goals.

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    In the news

    Victor Osimhen aiming at €100m African player

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    Super Eagles and Lille FC of France striker Victor Osimhen has spoken of how it feels to be linked to the best clubs in the world at such a young age.

    Osimhen, 21, joined Lille from Sporting Chaleroi and has scored 15 goals in all competitions this term and produced four assists and could become Africa’s most expensive footballer in history if an interested club meet his reported asking price of €80 million to €100 million .

    His performances in front of goal this season has linked him with transfers to Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona, but the Lille number 7 feels he deserves all the accolades because he works so hard.

    Barca and Liverpool linked Victor Osimhen speaks on prospect of becoming Africa

    Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Osimhen said: “It feels great, it shows that I am really, really working hard and I have been trying to improve myself as a player and as a person.

    “I think I am happy here at Lille, very good environment for me to develop myself as the player I want to become in the future.

    “As I always say every time, I am loyal to Lille and they are in charge of my future and they decide if I stay or if I go”.

    “For me, I think I deserve it and Lille deserve it also.

    Super Eagles and Lille FC of France striker Victor Osimhen

    “From the start of the season I have been working really quite hard to get to where I am today, to get the recognition in France also.

    “I am not in the best position to say I’m worth this or not, Lille will decide anytime they want to sell me”.

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    In the news

    After health fright, Osimhen declared fit to play.

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    …to face monaco

    Super Eagles and Lille forward, Victor Osimhen, has been passed fit and available for selection for the club’s trip to the Stade Louis-II on Saturday (today).

    The Nigeria international who had opened scoring in the 19th minute for Lille during Tuesday’s French League Cup game against AS Monaco was taken off after complaining of chest pain and rushed to a hospital.

    Speaking at a press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of their Ligue 1 match against Monaco, one of the subjects the manager, Christophe Galtier, talked about was the availability of Osimhen, who returned to Lille on Thursday evening after spending two nights in the hospital under observation following a health scare and the manager confirmed that Osimhen is back in training and is fit for the weekend clash.

    “Victor returned from Monaco yesterday after taking exams ,” Galtier was quoted saying on the club’s official website.

    “These examinations have shown that he is fit to play tomorrow. He had a very thorough assessment, and today we have the green light so that he can play. And he wants to play”.

    Osimhen is Lille’s leading scorer with 12 goals so far this season and has produced four assists in 23 games.

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    In the news

    2-1: Frank Lampard Push Chelsea To Qualify For The UCL Last 16 After Knocking Lille.

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    …Tammy Abraham and Azpilicueta Shines

    Chelsea booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League as first-half goals from Tammy Abraham and Cesar Azpilicueta sealed a 2-1 win over a much-changed Lille at Stamford Bridge.

    Victory for Valencia over Ajax in the other game in Group H means Frank Lampard’s men go through behind the Spaniards with last season’s semi-finalists relegated to the Europa League.

    Chelsea knew victory would take them into the knockout stages no matter what the outcome was in Amsterdam and did their job early on against a Lille side with just one point to show for their return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

    Simple finishes from Abraham and Azpilicueta were just reward for a dominant first-half display, but Chelsea were forced to hold on in the final stages after Loic Remy halved Lille’s deficit against his old club 12 minutes from time.

    The visitors were already sure to finish bottom of the group and coach Christophe Galtier showed his priority is trying to secure a return to the Champions League next season by finishing in the top three of Ligue 1 as he made seven changes to the side that beat Brest on Friday.

    Chelsea had won just one of their previous five games after a great start to life under Lampard and the Blues boss responded by adding a little more experience to what has been a very young side so far this season.

    Antonio Rudiger returned from injury to make just his second start of the campaign at centre-back, while Jorginho was restored in midfield to the side that lost 3-1 to Everton on Saturday.

    Up front, Abraham was again flanked by Christian Pulisic and Willian, and all three combined to open the scoring on 19 minutes.

    Pulisic unselfishly played in Willian on the right instead of opting to go for goal himself and the Brazilian’s driven cross was tapped in by Abraham for his 13th goal of the season.

    Lille have been the whipping boys in a three-way shootout for two places in the last 16 and showed why 10 minutes before half-time when Azpilicueta was left completely unmarked to head home Emerson’s corner from close range.

    Mike Maignan in the Lille goal kept his side in the game with a fine double save from Pulisic and Willian at the start of the second half.

    However, Chelsea took their foot off the gas as Lampard replaced Pulisic and Abraham ahead of a busy festive period in the Premier League.

    And the hosts had to suffer a nervy final dozen minutes when Remy fired in off the underside of the bar.

    Remy was a peripheral figure during three seasons at Chelsea between 2014 and 2017, but nearly came back to haunt his old employers only to fire weakly into the arms of Kepa Arrizabalaga in stoppage time.

    Instead, Chelsea saw the game out to mark another impressive milestone in Lampard’s first season in charge.

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    In the news

    Galtier speaks on Osimehn’s Bid By Barcelona And Arsenal

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    …says he will remain in Lille

    Lille coach Christophe Galtier has come out to speak on the future of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen.

    Osimhen who has scored 11 goals in 21 games across all competitions this season has also established himself as one of Africa’s in-demand strikers, scoring four goals in his last four appearances for his motherland, Nigeria and was recently nominated for the 2019 African Youth Player of the Year award by the Confederation of African Football.

    Barcelona need a replacement for Luis Suarez while Arsenal need a new striker incase Aubameyang leaves but Galtier insists Osimhen will remain at the club when the January transfer window closes for business.

    Asked if the former Sporting Chaleroi striker Osimhen will stay until the end of the season, Galtier told media : ”

    Yes, I believe so. But in football, nothing is safe. I can confirm this with regard to the weeks that have just passed”.

    Osimhen and his teammates will visit Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League.

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