Three Nigerian footballers will likely be involved when the Foxes host the Neapolitans in possibly the biggest Europa League match of Thursday
Former Sunderland football director Roberto De Fanti has revealed his admiration for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen while name-checking Kelechi Iheanacho among Leicester City’s most dangerous players.
After overcoming the UK’s travel policy bottleneck, Osimhen is in the Napoli squad preparing to take on Leicester in a top-of-the-draw Europa League clash at the King Power Stadium.
The Super Eagles striker has endured a tough start to the campaign, lasting only 22 minutes against Venezia, suspended for the Genoa clash, and firing blanks versus Juventus at the weekend.
But his potential is undeniable, and De Fanti has warned Brendan Rodgers and all associated with Leicester that the former Lille ace guarantees goals for Napoli.
“Osimhen? We are certainly talking about a great player with unexpressed potential,” the former Premier League-based administrator told Radio Marte, as per Area Napoli.
“At the moment, perhaps he has 10-12 goals a year in the bag, but if used according to his characteristics, he will be able to raise the figure. Great player already now, but he can get stronger.”
Leicester City are not a weak team either, with manager Brendan Rodgers establishing the Foxes among the best six clubs in England over the last few seasons.
The FA Cup winners defeated EPL champions Man City in the Community Shield but narrowly lost their most recent league meeting at the weekend.
Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, and Nigeria’s Wilfred Ndidi are three of the side’s best stars, but Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho topped the club’s goalscorers chart last term.
And De Fanti has urged Napoli to be wary of Osimhen’s compatriot Iheanacho, who is one of the players who could do them harm.
“Leicester? Very strong team,” De Fanti added.
“Let’s not forget that they were the first team to beat Manchester City; then they lost in the Premier League.
“Rodgers, after his unsuccessful experience in Liverpool, is proving something. He will be a very tough opponent.
“Vardy is obviously the best-known player, but they also have Iheanacho, Perez, Tielemans, or even Soumaré and Castagne.”
Napoli and Leicester City are undoubtedly the two strongest teams in Group C that also has Legia Warsaw and Victor Moses’ Spartak Moscow.
Luciano Spalletti’s men, however, arrived in England in great form after they claimed an eye-catching win over Juventus in their last fixture and are unbeaten in their previous 12 competitive games (W9, D3).
This post was last modified on September 16, 2021 10:08 am