The latest Nigerian diamond: Vince Osuji is set to conquer Europe

When they saw him for the first time, in Kalmar, Sweden, someone must have shouted: "Eureka!". You can't find such a talent everyday, certainly not in a town of thirty-thousand inhabitants scattered across the Baltic. The scouts of the top European clubs have already noticed it: Vince Osuji, central defender born in 2006, really seems to have something special. He turned eighteen last April: Kalmar scouted him and bought him in a deal, directly from Nigeria, that promises success. 

European top teams, keen on Osuji

Three games were enough for Osuji to demonstrate that he has different athletic and technical capabilities than most of his peers. Arriving a few weeks ago, he played against AIK, Brommapojkarna and Djurgarden. Two hundred and seventy minutes. Enough to make the phones of Kalmar sports management ring, over and over again. "This boy is good, how much do you want for him?". But, as things stand, Kalmar want to hold onto it. Tightly. In a matter of minutes, he will be back on the pitch, against Norrkoping. And the stands will already be crowded with scouts to follow him: "This central defender really promises well", expert eyes in Sweden assure us.

Discovering Osuji, Kalmar's golden boy 

He arrived as an unknown player, and immediately shone on the stage as a main character. His skill-set is wide, from defensive plays to a great timing in passes, elevation and speed, and a good ability in ball-carrying. One hundred and eighty-nine centimeters of potential to work on, a young diamond, not even that rough. He plays, at eighteen, against experienced attackers, but in duels he has something more. He already shows confidence and composure.

The feeling, in Kalmar, is that they have a rising star in their hands. A youngster like this has been missing, at Kalmar, for a long time. From the years of Rasmus Elm (16 appearances in the Europa League between AZ and CSKA Moscow and 39 for the Swedish national team) and above all Etrit Berisha, sold to Lazio in 2013, who became a goalkeeper able to play over 150 games in Serie A. Osuji seems to have all the potential to follow in their footsteps or even do more: the path is paved.