Victor Osimhen has described Fulham’s Calvin Bassey as the finest African centre-back, while also pointing to Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero as one of the most difficult players he has ever played against .
The Galatasaray forward made the comments in a chat with River Rhodes following his latest league triumph, where he discussed defenders who have challenged him the most. He especially praised Bassey for his physical power during training sessions and also highlighted Romero’s sharp reading of the game.
Osimhen, who recently lifted the Turkish Super Lig trophy with Galatasaray, said the Nigerian defender deserves top recognition both in Europe and across Africa.
“In my opinion, Calvin Bassey stands out. Honestly, in training, he’s extremely strong. I would even say right now he’s the top defender from Africa and among the very best in the English Premier League,” Osimhen stated, as posted on Instagram by Rhodes.
He further spoke highly of Romero, recalling their encounters when the Argentine played for Atalanta, describing him as a very clever and demanding opponent.
“Romero from Spurs is also very smart defensively. He really made things tough for me whenever we played,” he said.
“I’ve come up against many top-level defenders, but the two I mentioned are definitely among the toughest I’ve faced.”
Osimhen has been in excellent form since moving to Turkey, scoring twice in a recent victory over Antalyaspor, taking his season total to 22 goals and helping Galatasaray clinch another league crown.
The achievement also saw him match former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo’s record for the highest number of Turkish league titles won by a Nigerian player.
Meanwhile, Bassey continues to be an important figure for Fulham in the Premier League, earning praise for his strength and consistency, while Romero remains a key defensive leader for Tottenham and a World Cup winner with Argentina.
