The Grigiorossi have smashed their transfer record twice this summer to bring in two of Nigeria’s most exciting attackers in Europe
Cremonese’s most expensive ever signing David Okereke has reserved special praise for his compatriots and Serie A colleagues Victor Osimhen and Cyriel Dessers.
After an impressive campaign on loan at Venezia last term, where he scored seven Serie A goals, Okereke is back in Italy.
Cremonese reportedly paid a club-record ten million euros to secure the signature of the 24-year-old from Club Brugge.
And a few hours ago, the Grigiorossi completed another permanent deal for another Nigerian striker, Cyriel Dessers, from Racing Genk. For a reported €6.5 million, Dessers also became the second most expensive player in Cremonese history.
Okereke is not surprised that Cremonese has splashed such a massive transfer fee on a player who was the top goalscorer in the Europa Conference League last season.
And the former Nigeria youth international has backed Dessers to help the Serie A newbies avoid an instant return to Serie B.
“I faced Dessers when he was playing for Genk and I got to see him in the Conference League last year,” Okereke told La Gazzetta dello Sport, as per Calcio Cremonese.
“I am very happy that he comes to us; his experience could help us a lot.”
How is Okereke similar to Osimhen?
One of the biggest challenges that Cremonese will face this season is Victor Osimhen’s Napoli.
Osimhen is one of Serie A’s, and probably Europe’s, most accomplished young strikers. The 23-year-old scored 14 league goals in only 27 games last term, scooping the best young player award.
Napoli will lock horns with Cremonese for the first time this season on October 8, a game the Neapolitans will be huge favourites to win.
Okereke is convinced that Cremonese manager Massimiliano Alvini is building a team that can cause problems for such a massive opponent.
And the 24-year-old believes that in himself, Cremonese have a forward similar in qualities to Victor Osimhen.
Okereke said, “I like to attack the depth, but with Mr. Alvini and my teammates we are also trying to improve other aspects to be more unpredictable.
“How am I similar to Osimhen? We have in common the speed and the rapidity of the movements.”
Cremonese started the 2022-2023 season on an excellent note with a victory in the Coppa Italia. Okereke scored as the Grigiorossi forced a thrilling 3-2 defeat down the throat of Ternana.
But a more challenging outing awaits them this weekend in the opening round of Serie A.
Okereke, Dessers, and Cremonese will search for their first points of the campaign at Fiorentina.
