Nigeria boss Eric Chelle expects Europe’s top sides to show interest in Victor Osimhen after the striker helped fire Galatasaray to the Turkish title.
The 26-year-old is set to return to parent club Napoli after scoring 37 goals in 41 games during this season’s loan spell with the Istanbul giants.
He has one year remaining on his contract in Italy, but is expected to depart Napoli as he is not part of coach Antonio Conte’s plans.
With his future undecided, Osimhen has been left out of the Super Eagles squad for the international friendly away against Russia on Friday.
“Victor is, for me, the best striker in the world,” Chelle told BBC Sport Africa.
“For him it is difficult to come for this game because he played a season with a lot of pressure.
“The reality is there is a transfer window. During this time, a player like him is not focused at 100%.
“I need to protect him physically and mentally, because maybe he will go [and get a transfer move].
“Maybe a club like Manchester United. Or maybe Chelsea, Barcelona or Real Madrid. So he needs to be focused on that.”
Osimhen wants to score ‘even when he sleeps’
Osimhen, an Under-17 World Cup winner in 2015, is second on Nigeria’s all-time list of top scorers with 26 goals.
He spearheaded the Super Eagles attack at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where the West Africans finished as runners-up, and has been crucial in reviving the side’s hopes of reaching the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Nigeria only picked up three points from their first four matches when Osimhen was absent with injury, but the striker netted three goals when he returned in March as the Super Eagles secured a win over Rwanda and a draw against Zimbabwe.
Chelle says he has “never seen a competitor” like the former Wolfsburg and Lille front man.
“He wants to win everything during training. It’s crazy,” Chelle, 47, added.
“When the training session finishes he wants to stay on the pitch and score again and again.
“I think maybe even when he sleeps he wants to score too.”
Russia a ‘great nation of football’
Nigeria travel to Moscow after winning the Unity Cup friendly tournament on Saturday.
The Super Eagles overcame fierce local rivals Ghana 2-1 last Wednesday and then beat Jamaica 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the final.
Russia remain banned from competitive internationals following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, yet Chelle still expects a challenging encounter as he builds towards the next round of 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September.
Those games, at home against Rwanda and away in South Africa, will be crucial as Nigeria look to bridge the six-point gap to Group C leaders Bafana Bafana.
“Russia is a great nation of football,” Chelle said.
“They need to play some international games because [with] the war it is difficult for them. They have lots of great players in their league.
“I think a lot of people will come to watch the game.
“The reality is we work for September, for the next window for the World Cup qualifiers. This is our goal.”
Bbc.com
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