One of Nigeria’s most exciting youngsters in Europe continues to add to his fan base with his attacking play, the latest of whom is a legendary Italian forward
2006 FIFA World Cup winner Luca Toni has joined the long queue of former footballers who are impressed by the qualities of Nigerian international striker Victor Osimhen.
Despite arriving in Napoli from French Ligue 1 side Lille for a club and African record fee, the Super Eagles striker only managed ten league goals in his debut season in the Italian Serie A.
Still, Osimhen has courted praises from Diego Maradona Jr, son of the Argentine icon of the same name, former Middlesbrough striker Massimo Maccarone, and a couple of ex-Napoli stars.
The youngster’s incredible strength, his speed with or without the ball, and his seemingly insatiable hunger for goals have adhered him to many who expect him to be one of the breakout stars of the 2021-22 season.
Two-time Serie A top scorer Toni agrees that Osimhen can deliver even more than his first year in Italy while suggesting that the youngster gives Napoli a different attacking advantage.
The former Juventus and Bayern Munich forward expects Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti to turn the Nigerian lad into a goalscoring machine.
“I expect a lot from Osimhen; he has great potential: when he’s missing, it’s a different Napoli,” Toni told Gazzetta Dello Sport, as per Napoli Today.
“He has power, speed, breaks defences. Spalletti will be able to make him perform at his best.”
Osimhen showed glimpses of what to expect in this campaign during his club’s pre-season preparations as he scored goals for fun.
Napoli begin their Serie A campaign with a home game against newly-promoted Venezia this weekend.