Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has talked about a “near-death” injury that left him with 18 screws in his jaw.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria international striker suffered a clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar that left him requiring major surgery in November 2021.
Despite hitting 18 goals that season, Osimhen says the experience was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
The 23-year-old striker told Wazobia FM:
“That injury I had against Inter Milan was like a near-death injury.
“I am the only one that felt it, and I can only speak about how I felt because it was my face and body.
“But to be able to stand up without using the stretcher, walk out of the pitch on my own, then I knew that it was something I could handle.
“For me, as I got to the hospital, I told my doctor that I would be out for two weeks maximum.”
“When the scan came out, I fractured many bones, which they had to remove and fix inside again. I have like 18 screws under my jaw. I went through a lot.
“A lot of sleepless nights. I could not sleep, I could not eat with the pain. But at the end of the day, I am a lion, and I know the kind of mentality I have.
“In my mind, I had already scheduled my return following the surgery.”
Osimhen has since found the target 28 times through two seasons at Napoli, with his stock continuing to rise. Potential moves to Arsenal and Manchester United are being mooted with reports suggesting that he has a €100m (£86m/$106m) price tag.