Osimhen would thrive in the Premier League, says Emmanuel Adebayor
Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes Victor Osimhen has all the qualities needed to “thrive” in the Premier League.
Nigeria star forward Osimhen, who’s Africa’s Footballer of the Year, has risen to become one of the world’s most lethal attackers.
He helped Napoli to a first Serie A title in 33 years last season, hitting a league-high 26 goals in the process, and clubs including Arsenal and Chelsea have shown significant interest in the 25-year-old, who last month extended his contract with the Italians until 2026.
“He has the right attitude, mentality and determination to excel there (in England),” former Togo captain Adebayor told BBC Sport Africa.
“I’m praying for him to move to the Premier League and show what he’s capable of.”
The Premier League was dominated by African strikers in the mid to late 2000s, with the likes of Adebayor, Didier Drogba and Yakubu Aiyegbeni headlining for some of the biggest clubs in the division.
Osimhen idolised Drogba growing up and has also made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League in the future.
Adebayor thinks the time is right for the Nigerian, who he affectionately referred to as his “younger brother”, to move to England and take up the mantle of the great African strikers from years gone by.
“The Premier League is the toughest and best (league) in the world,” Adebayor said.
“Osimhen has shown and done it already in Italy, I think it is the right time for him to move to England and replace his idol Drogba and do beautiful things.
“He has all it takes to make a name and write a great chapter in England like Drogba.”
When Osimhen received his African Footballer of the Year award in Morocco, Adebayor was among the people he name-checked in his acceptance speech.
Adebayor, who himself won the award in 2008, has shed some light on his mentor relationship with Osimhen and said he was touched by his words.
“I started talking to him one or two years (ago),” the 39-year-old.
“Every time I talk to him, it’s about encouragement, and I tell him what to do and what not to do. I didn’t even know that he was listening.
“To come on a bigger stage like the Caf awards, the Ballon d’Or of Africa, and mention my name, and thank me for the encouragement… to be honest with you, I got emotional.
“And I’m a guy that doesn’t get emotional at all. But there I didn’t have a choice.
“It was even more beautiful than when I won it myself. To be honest with you, this is how big it was.
“This will stay with me for life. If he continues in this stride he will win more Caf awards in the future.”
Adebayor scored 97 goals in 241 appearances over the course of a decade in the Premier League, which began with the Gunners in 2006 and also included stints at Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.
