Roberto Sosa, a striker-turned-coach who played for Napoli in his days, has praised Nigeria national football team ace Victor Osimhen, stating that he is as good as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The 24-year-old Nigerian international and the 22-year-old Norwegian international both led their teams to glory in the 2022/23 season and have drawn comparisons to each other in the past few years.
Sosa, who played for Udinese, Napoli as well as other Serie A teams between 1998 and 2008, has come out outright to state that the former LOSC Lille man is better than the former Borussia Dortmund man.
Where do you think Victor Osimhen will go to? 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/ycQv9Kq2mp
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) May 26, 2023
Osimhen the striker of the moment in Serie A, Sosa says
Roberto Sosa, whose last role as a coach was at Vultur Rionero in the Italian Serie D back in 2017, has been in the Italian football scene for decades.
Having represented a few teams in Italy, Victor Osimhen’s Napoli included, he understands what it takes to be a shining star in the Italian Serie A.
Sosa was commenting generally on the outcome of the 2022/23 season, which Osimhen helped to sway in the favour of the Partenopei with his 23 goals (and counting) when he noted that the former RSC Charleroi man may be undervalued at €140 million.
Sosa noted that Osimhen is one of the best strikers in the Serie A alongside Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, while stating that the Super Eagles striker is on the same level as Haaland, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski.
Up until late March when he suffered an injury, Osimhen was second behind Premier League player of the season Haaland in the European golden shoe race. He will be hoping to make up for it by winning the AFCON 2023 golden boot but he will first have to ensure Nigeria’s qualification in the next few AFCON 2023 qualifiers fixtures.
Sosa said of Osimhen and the price tag attached to him to Sportitalia (via Tuttojuve): “Together with Lautaro, he's the striker of the moment. I'm sorry not to include Vlahovic in this list.”
Victor Osimhen is one of the fastest players in Serie A, for me he is built for the Premier League. pic.twitter.com/IRR0Zgjplr
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) May 28, 2023
€140 million too few for Osimhen transfer, Sosa suggests
Sosa then went on to suggest that there was not much difference between Osimhen and Vlahovic in terms of ability and that that ability is comparable to the best in the world at the moment. “The Serbian is penalised by his coach's play,” he added. “If Osimhen had played for Juve, his performances would not have been different from those of Dusan.
“That said, the Nigerian is now the level of forwards like Haaland, Benzema and Lewandoski. So, at the moment, 140 million could be too few!”
Napoli are currently looking to prevent a transfer with several clubs interested in Osimhen. Chelsea is understood to be pushing for the transfer as their priority. Manchester United is said to be interested, but Rio Ferdinand, former captain of the side, has advised his old club that signing the Nigeria Super Eagles ace will be a big risk.
🚨 Victor Osimhen was spotted in a luxury hotel in Berlin with his girlfriend and daughter yesterday.
His girlfriend, originally from Germany, would like to return home. 🇩🇪
(Source: BILD) pic.twitter.com/USavqHRXRQ
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 25, 2023
“There are two names that keep coming up – Osimhen and Kane. Ultimately, it is down to Kane and (Tottenham chairman) Daniel Levy,” Ferdinand said. “Osimhen is a different kettle of fish. He’s 24 years old, scored goals in France and Italy. Won the league (in Italy) and knows how to win leagues.
“He’s been a No.9 at a dominant team. Is that transferable to the Premier League? No one knows that. That’s the chance United would have to take on him.
“That’s the only risk I see.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
