Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has shared a candid account of his life and career in The Players’ Tribune, recalling the profound influence of Luciano Spalletti during his move from Lille to Napoli, a period marked by personal hardship.
In his piece, titled “A Prayer From the Gutter”, Osimhen traces his journey from playing barefoot on the streets of Nigeria to supporting his family at a young age, before finally seizing his professional breakthrough after a devastating rejection.
The former Napoli forward paints a heartfelt picture of his time in Naples, recounting the challenges he faced when Lille’s transfer negotiations kept him from visiting his dying father at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The experience left him so disillusioned he briefly considered quitting football.
“When I left Lille, I was lost. When I came to Napoli, I was found,” Osimhen reflected.
“I really have to thank the city, the fans, and my teammates for turning my life around. I remember telling Mr. Spalletti when I first arrived, ‘I am not well. I am very angry right now. Very sad. My head is not straight.’”
He described Spalletti as a father figure: “When I wasn’t doing something right, he came for my neck. But he believed in me deep in his soul. He thought I could be the best in the world.”
Osimhen also detailed the rigorous environment at Napoli.
“We couldn’t even complain. Mr. Spalletti was sleeping in his office, with a little bed set up like in the army. He had a wife at home, but for five months, he slept there. Before big matches, he would tell us, ‘You don’t understand what will happen if you win the title. Me? They might speak about me for two or three years. But you players, they will be remembered for a lifetime.’”
Reflecting on his legacy at Napoli, Osimhen said: “To win a title is one thing. But to win a Scudetto for Napoli for the first time in 33 years is true history. This is why I choose the teams I choose.”
He also addressed his decision to leave Naples and join Galatasaray.
“When I left Napoli, so many people asked me, ‘Are you crazy? Don’t go to Turkey.’ Even a former agent warned me it wasn’t a smart move. But I follow my heart. I wanted to play for Galatasaray. How can I go from the emotion of Napoli to just any club? Impossible. I wanted a club where the passion for football is felt in every street and every fan. That’s the kind of people who truly understand me.”
