Former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has defended Victor Osimhen, insisting the Napoli forward is world-class while criticising attempts to undervalue him—particularly a failed move to Chelsea FC.
“They want him to go to Chelsea, where he will lower his wages by far. They wanted to have his image right and pay him peanuts,” Ighalo said in an interview with Brila FM yesterday and monitored by ENigeria Newspaper.
He dismissed suggestions that Osimhen does not belong among football’s elite, pointing to his performances in Serie A and European competitions.
“Those people that are saying Osimhen is not a world class, it’s their opinion. Forget that he is my brother. Osimhen is one of the best players in the world,” he said.
Highlighting the striker’s achievements, Ighalo added: “How do they judge world-class? I played in the Serie A I know how difficult it is. He finished as top scorer of the league. At Galatasaray, he is scoring goals in the league and UCL.”
The former Manchester United forward also criticised the tendency to underrate African players.
“Africans, we bring our own down. If an English player is doing what Osimhen is doing, they will sing his praise to the high heavens,” he said.
Ighalo further emphasised Osimhen’s work rate and unique playing style, admitting even he could not replicate it.
“Some players are not doing half of what he is doing, and they are earning a lot. Me as a striker, I can’t play the way Osimhen is doing. He plays with his life. I can’t play like that; he chases defenders and bullies them. You can’t get Osimhen on your team, and he won’t work.”
“He is playing with a knee injury. How many people know that? And he will keep running, chasing defenders. If you spend the money to buy Osimhen, he will give you everything. Maybe because he is a Nigerian, he deserves to earn everything he is earning and even more.”
Ighalo maintained that Osimhen’s quality, consistency, and sacrifice firmly place him among the world’s best strikers, regardless of criticism.
