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Mourinho clashed with Osimhen during Roma’s game against Napoli in Serie A in the just-concluded season.
Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen says he has cleared the air with Jose Mourinho while also expressing his appreciation for the AS Roma manager.
Osimhen found himself in Mourinho’s bad books last season after the Portuguese tactician accused the Nigerian of diving.
Osimhen appreciates Jose Mourinho
Osimhen was on target for Napoli in both games against Roma last season but Mourinho was not totally satisfied with his antics in the second leg at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The Super Eagles star opened the scoring as Napoli secured a 2-1 win over Roma, but Mourinho was critical of Osimhen’s diving antics.
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Following the game, Mourinho praised Osimhen and compared him to Didier Drogba but urged him not to dive.
The quotes made headlines but Osimhen has now stated that all is well between him and Mourinho, saying he explained to the Roma manager the reason for his antics.
“After somebody stepped on my wrist and it got peeled, (Mourinho) came to me and he said, ‘Good goal, but don’t do that. Don’t try to dive. Keep going like this; you’re on the right path.’ I told him that I don’t make simulations, I was pushed, and I showed him my hand, and he said, ‘Go on’,” Osimhen said in an interview with Soccernet.
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Osimhen added that the moment meant a lot to him as Mourinho praised him for his ability. The Nigeria international said it gave him the belief to push for more glory.
Osimhen will never forget Mourinho's words
Not only that, but Osimhen also revealed he felt proud when he heard Mourinho compared him to Drogba, saying he would forever cherish the words.
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“Coming from someone this kind of a man, the best in the world if I’m not mistaken, for me, it’s just the fuel that I really need to continue,” Osimhen continued.
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“I think every aspiring striker, mostly when you’re young, if you have the opportunity to play under Mourinho, I think it’s a huge honour because he has shaped a lot of world-class strikers,” Osimhen responded.
“Didier Drogba played under him, and we know the kind of beast he actually turned him into. And he delivered for him. So, for me, it’s a great privilege that Mourinho spoke to me in the middle of the game and gave me this compliment. It’s a huge one for me,” Osimhen concluded.
It remains to be seen if Osimhen will continue to impress Mourinho going into next season as the Nigerian has been linked with a move away from Serie A this summer.
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