Nigeria international Victor Osimhen has sought to calm tensions surrounding recent comments made by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, insisting that the matter has been misunderstood and exaggerated.
In a statement released, the striker revealed that he had personally spoken with Chelle following the controversy generated by the coach’s latest interview, where he revealed that Osimhen is planning to leave his current club, Galatasaray.
According to Osimhen, the comments attributed to Chelle were taken out of context and did not reflect the coach’s true intentions.
The Galatasaray forward said Chelle has great respect for the Turkish club and regularly follows its matches. He stressed that the coach never intended to create controversy or disrespect anyone through his remarks.
“I just had a phone call with Eric Chelle about the comments he made regarding me in his latest interview,” Osimhen said. “Unfortunately, his words were taken out of context and blown out of proportion.”
The 27-year-old striker added that he appreciated the opportunity to discuss the issue directly with the coach and expressed confidence in their working relationship going forward.
The former Napoli star also used the statement to reaffirm his commitment to representing Nigeria. He said wearing the national team shirt remains a source of pride and that he looks forward to continuing his work under Chelle.
“I appreciate this conversation and the opportunity to always represent my country,” Osimhen stated. “I’m looking forward to continuing to work with him. He’s a very good coach whom I hold in high regard.”
The striker concluded by urging fans and the media to disregard ongoing speculation surrounding the issue. He also thanked supporters for their continued backing.
The statement is expected to put an end to rumours of a rift between the player and the coach, with both men now appearing focused on Nigeria’s upcoming assignments and their shared goal of achieving success with the Super Eagles.
