The Nigerian star impressed during the second half of his debut season in the Italian topflight, and he could set the league ablaze next term
Diego Armando Maradona Jr. has delivered a frank verdict on Victor Osimhen's first season at Napoli while expressing the desire to see the Super Eagles striker deliver the goods in the 2021/22 campaign.
Osimhen battled with injury, coronavirus infection, and isolation during his first few months in Serie A. The youngster struggled to justify the enormous transfer fee Napoli paid to secure his signature from Ligue 1 side Lille.
But the former Golden Eaglets hero regained his confidence at the turn of the year to score a few crucial goals that nearly powered the Neapolitans into the UEFA Champions League places.
Maradona Jr. saw enough of the Nigerian to conclude that the 22-year-old is a technically good player though he isn't exciting to watch.
During a regular broadcast ‘Arena Maradona' on Radio CRC as per AreaNapoli, Maradona Jr said:
“He (Osimhen) is not the kind of player that drives me crazy: I like that he's good with the feet, strong technically. That said, the Nigerian is strong.”
“After a year of transition, which was necessary, having come from a mediocre league like Ligue 1, he is expected to have a season, the next, in which he will also be confirmed in Serie A.”
But the son of the late Argentine legend of the same name believes that Osimhen has the qualities to thrive more under the attacking style of new Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti than the predictable tactics of former club boss Gennaro Gattuso.
“The former Lille lad has the qualities to do it. He has had time to grow; now, he is more mature to overcome the difficulties faced in Italy.”
“When he played with Gennaro Gattuso, we were faced with opponents who did not concede depth, and they waited low. For this, Osimhen struggled.”
“With Luciano Spalletti, in my opinion, he can improve. If he becomes reliable in building the game, if he learns to meet his teammate, then he becomes an impregnable striker.”
Osimhen managed ten goals in 24 games for Napoli.
Before moving to Italy, the former Wolfsburg star found the back of the net 13 times in 27 Ligue 1 matches for Lille. That's a year after scoring 12 goals in 25 games in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League for Sporting Charleroi.
The only problem I have with this article is to have called Ligue 1 a mediocre league. Their teams are doing better than Italian teams in UCL.