Italy 1982 World Cup winner Alessandro Altobelli has criticised Napoli forward Victor Osimhen for his injury issues, urging Napoli to get Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Osimhen’s move to Napoli has been bedeviled with injuries since he joined from Ligue 1 club Lille in 2020.
He was restricted to just 24 league appearances last season because of injury and Covid-19 issues.
Although he scored ten goals, Napoli missed out on Champions League qualification. This season, the he started strongly scoring nine goals in 14 games.
Unfortunately, he sustained a facial injury which forced him to undergo surgery in November when Napoli took on Inter Milan.
After a remarkable recovery from the injury, he then tested positive for coronavirus which ruled him out of the AFCON 2021.
Meanwhile, Vlahovic has been outstanding in the last two seasons. The Serbian forward has scored 38 goals in his last 58 Serie A appearances.
His impressive scoring form has made him a target for the likes of Arsenal and Juventus.
And Altobelli, 66, told TuttoNapoli that Vlahovic would fit into Napoli better than Osimhen because of his consistency.
“If Napoli had a strong striker at their disposal – and they did, that is Osimhen – where was he at this time?”
“For me, Osimhen is a great striker, but in two years, he makes you ten games. He gives little to Napoli. I am of the opinion that Napoli must take on a great striker.”
“If Napoli had Vlahovic, they would be at the top of the table.”
8 Comments
Boy has to fight and grow up now!
I hope OSIMENEGOALS, will not regret listening to wrong advice to stay away from AFCON. He was the missing link between SE n winning AFCON n that would have helped him enter into a much higher level of scoring goals as well as player value. IF THERE WASN’T AFCON, NAPOLI WOULD HAVE GOT HIM TO PLAY WITH MASK MUCH MORE EARLIER. IN LIFE, TO GET TO YOUR BLESSED DESTINATION, YOU MUST DRIVE OVER A MIRRAGE AND NOT BELIEVE ITS A BIG SEA, EXCEPT YOU NOT READY TO MAKE HAY WHILE SUNSHINES.
Indeed! @Chima. his social media rants are also very annoying, I am his fan but, Osimhen like I said a while back is getting carried away with fame. He needs to buckle up or be left behind it is that simple!!
Most of our guys are very good ball wise, but it’s a general thing that Nigerians except a few like Mikel don’t know how to live a Life that will help their Careers. Funny decision makings and refusal to educate themselves. Osigoal will get better as he ages that’s my Prayer.
Nice one iwunze. I think Osimhen is a great stricker too bt he has to cut down on numerous social media activities, focus on how best to improve his games and also stop harassing everyone in games including d referees.
Infact, d hype that follows his mega money transfer and d average success he has recorded so far in his career have all contributed in making him button boy too proud and noisy. It is like a psychological thing that depends mostly on d character and his perceptions. The basic truth is dat fame or success can be control or managed by it depends on d individual otherwise it starts to control d character period. Just take look at conducts of of some of d most successful African players past and present and understand wot it means. Players like Etoo, Kanu, Okocha, Finidi and today Sadio Mane and Moh Salah are typical examples. They would always take humility, focus, hard work as the only ingredients towards making successful careers. Infact, they do the talkings on d field of play each time.
Thank God Osimhen is still young and would do much better if properly guided.
I really don’t see why he opted out of the tournament…..There were tons of players who recovered from covid during the tournament. The Italians will never trade national assignment for club duty..I hope he doesn’t prioritize club commitments over National assignment ever again….He was back playing for Napoli before our second match….I just don’t get it. I’m a fan of Osimhen but truth be told that was a weird decision….Look at the ttoe of bullshit this guys is saying about him despite the fact he missed a whole tournament for Napoli..
He has Corona virus whya do you want him to do stay and infect everybody in camp and he said he isn’t 100% fit at Napoli sef he hasn’t start a game only coming at the dying minutes. That’s show he isn’t that fit already
The players that got Corona during Afcon and healed in the same tournament must be from another planet….I’ll still take the excuse of not being fit than the Corona excuse.