Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has credited former Germany international Mario Gomez as a major influence on his career, SportPremi reports.
The Super Eagles forward featured alongside the former Germany star during their brief spell together at Wolfsburg, lasting one and a half season.
- Check here: Atalanta manager laments Ademola Lookman AFCON absence
- Ozan Tufan lauds Paul Onuachu’s impact for Trabzonspor
Osimhen began his senior career at the German club in January 2017 after rising to prominence following his remarkable exploits at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2015.
The striker netted 10 times in the tournament to win the golden boot as Nigeria claimed a fifth title at the youth level.
He left Wolfsburg in 2018 after a series of appearances and joined Belgian side Charleroi, before moving on to Lille and then Napoli, whom he guided to a historic league title in the 2022-23 season.
Osimhen names Mario Gomez as big impact to career
Speaking in an interview after Galatasaray’s 3-2 win over Samsunspor, where the forward netted two goals including a stunning overhead kick in stoppage-time, Osimhen was full of praise for German legend Mario Gomez.
“When I finished the U-17, I saw a list of a lot of elite clubs that wanted me, and I looked at the possibility of breaking into the team when I turn 18, and I knew that I could because I have the ability and I believe in myself”, Osimhen revealed.
“But then, I felt like Wolfsburg would be the perfect project for me. I picked Wolfsburg by myself, and I’m happy with the decision.
“When I went there, it wasn’t what I expected in the first six months. I had a meniscus injury, and I had to undergo shoulder surgery. I wanted to leave on loan at first, but then Mario Gomez came”, the 26-year-old continued.
“When he entered the picture, a big legend, an experienced striker, one of the deadliest forwards in football. I went to the administrator of the club and mentioned I’d like to stay.
“I knew I still had time, so I wanted to learn, and then I looked at him in training. His touches, the types of goals he scored, the way he scanned to check for offsides, I thought it was crazy and unbelievable to train with him”, he concluded.
Osimhen and Galatasaray will be back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to France to face AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.
A victory will push them closer to the knockout rounds and ensure they bounce back from their shock defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise in their previous outing.
