“Force of Nature” – Victor Osimhen draws praises ahead of crunch Barcelona clash

The ex-Lille star will face Barcelona with the Neapolitans after another explosive display at the weekend

Nigerian international Victor Osimhen has earned praises for his fantastic performances for Napoli just hours before the Italian side trade tackles with Barcelona in the UEFA Europa League.

Osimhen continues to play with a protective mask following his complicated, multiple facial injuries. But the Super Eagles star has picked up right from where he stopped before that freak injury kept him out of action for about two months.

The 23-year-old scored against Venezia on his first start of the year. And he earned the fifth-minute penalty, which captain Lorenzo Insigne converted in Napoli’s 1-1 draw against Inter Milan at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Saturday.

And former Napoli star Antonio Capone is convinced that the Nigerian ace has just enough quality to play crucial roles for the Italian side.

“He (Osimhen) can be decisive, he is a guy who does not have a great technique, but he is a force of nature,” Capone told TMW as per AreaNapoli.

“You throw him into the spaces and he hurts you. Saturday was also smart to get the penalty.”

Osimhen has ten goals in 18 appearances for Napoli this time, making him the club’s leading goalscorer despite spending several weeks on the sidelines.

Still, more is expected of the club record signing, who is considered to be one of the world’s most dangerous strikers.

Former Napoli and Juventus ace Josè Altafini is aware of the young forward’s massive potential. And he is backing Osimhen to get even better as he understands the rigours of top-level football.

“Osimhen can become an excellent striker,” Altafini told Radio Kiss Kiss as per Tutto Napoli.

“We have the example of Leao who in recent years seemed listless and now seems to have matured; I think that even the Napoli striker can improve even more.”

Four of Osimhen’s goals this term have come in three Europa League appearances, and he will look to add more when Napoli make the trip to Camp Nou to battle Barcelona on Thursday.

It is the first time the Catalans will feature in the competition after getting knocked out of the Champions League. And Osimhen will fancy his chances against a defence that has conceded at least a goal in 12 of their last 14 matches across all competitions.