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/Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo believes Victor Osimhen has the capability to become a great player in the future.
The Nigerian international declared his thoughts on the Napoli striker during an interview with Brila Fm.
‘I like Osimhen a lot. I like his energy and I think he’ll go very far,’ said the Center half.
‘I’m not saying we don’t have many players but I look at him and think he’ll go far.’
Osimhen has 10 caps and scored five times for the senior national team since he made his debut against Togo in 2017 in a friendly.
Known for his pace and strength, Osimhen, however, hasn’t thrived in front of goal since moving from Lille last summer to Serie A side, Napoli.
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Osimhen does have the attributes to go on to be a great striker like Omeruo said but that will not happen at Napoli if his team mates continue to starve him of tailored service.
Any great striker is only as good as the service he receives from those around him so, as the service is poor, Osimhen’s output would likewise be under the weather.
I have watched quite a number of Napoli games this season and I have to be honest, Osimhen seems isolated a lot. He seems to be feeding off crumbs most of the time. The question to the Napoli hierarchy is: is that what they paid €70 million for?
It really baffles me how they can pay that much for a striker and not make him the focal point of their attack. Genk didn’t pay that much for Onuachu but they are reaping the rewards of their investment by making Onuachu the centrepiece of their strike force.
Thus far this season, Napoli have recorded 45 goals in all league games. When Osimhen was available, they scored 17 goals with the Nigerian contributing a meagre 11% (just 2 goals).
And it is not for the want of trying.
Osimhen works his socks off, toiling and trawling through defences trying to find his way only to be compromised by inadequate and inappropriate service from his midfielders and wingers.
He now runs the very risk of being seen as a monumental flop by the global football community as expectations were rocket high following his big money move from Lille.
Personally, I had expected him to stay behind in Lille to acuminate his striker skills further at least for 1 more season before testing the waters elsewhere.
But we are where we are and coach Gattuso has to address this situation and fast. I know people would say because I am Nigerian that I am trying to peddle some baseless conspiracy theory but I reject that comment.
See the case of Onuachu: the 28 year old centre forward is shining like a million stars in Belgium because the team plays to his strengths by feedng him the right balls at the right time for him to wreck havoc.
All you have to do is watch Napoli play and you will see the wingers and midfielders shooting for goal (many times from impossible angles) rather than pick out Osimhen. Napoli are scoring goals but they are doing it without their record signing which begs the question: are the players trying to prove that they can score goals without Osimhen?
I know; this is an astonishing question but one that (I think) is legitimate nonetheless.
I would not want to impugn the sincerity of Osimhen’s teammates neither would I want to accuse them of wrongdoing with wild speculations but one thing is clear: the way the team plays up front does not appear to play to the strengths of Victor Osimhen which currently makes the Nigerian look lame in front of goal.
Until that is addressed by the club hierarchy, I struggle to see how Osimhen’s stuggles will subside.
My brother, you have just said it all. I once thought that I was the only one holding this observation. I am appalled at the attitude of these sets of players. They are really portraying the typical Italian attitude of jealousy and deprivation… they are protesting the huge amount spent on getting a ‘black gold’ in the squad. They are orchestrating a point to their management and the world to embarrass Osimhen.
I will urge the coaches to help out here and the fans as well. Osimhen is a great star and can humble the pie. He is worth more than that money if he is given the right services from the other team mates and midfield tenders saddled with that responsibilities, just as they service other strikers during the absence of Osimhen.
Moffi just scored again, against Monaco, the game is still young though but this young man keeps impressing game after game. I wasn’t sure about him initially but, he may have something. He could be the left footed striker we have been looking for. Iheanacho is more of a conditioned striker having been used there in his club because he is a good finisher, but we all know he prefers playing behind the main striker and chukwueze is a winger who doesn’t score a lot of goals but moffi has always been a striker. I watch his progress with great enthusiasm.
Moffi scores his second of the match. Lorient leads 2-1 away to monaco. There is still time. But moffi is having a great game. Currently on a hattrick. Lets see how it goes.
I am watching the match too. Moffi is playing very well. For his second goal, his first touch took the ball neatly away from the defender before turning on the after-burners to float into the 18 yard box for his cultured left footed finish.
He has been the difference between Lorient and Monaco thus far.
Surely a potential national team material should he continue this way.
Game ends at 2-2 but moffi made his mark. Another 2 goals in his account and his team is 4 points above the relegation zone. Not a bad weekend for the new rave of the moment! Keep it up bro
Deo, God bless You. I thought I have been the only one seeing it.
The teammates have been systematically playing Victor Osimhen out and I don’t seem to understand why the coach is either not seeing it or chosen to leave it unaddressed
His first goal was another man’s weak effort on goal from the right side of the box which was almost outgoing but Victor Osimhen headed it in from the left, very close to the line and verily from such an unlikely angle
He also scored the second from an unlikely distance
Even in very obvious situations and circumstances, he was denied the ball. His teammates would rather prefer to be selfish, waste the ball on meaningless shootings than passing to him
It is even quite pathetic that the injury he picked on international duty has not helped matters
In it all, I’m fully persuaded he’ll come it