Tag: Osimhen

Napoli star striker Victor Osimhen trained separately yesterday  due to a fever but should be available for the next Serie A game against Cagliari.

Osimhen worked separately from the group during a training session, Napoli said in an official statement. The 25-year-old worked in the gym and not on the pitch, while his teammate Cyril Ngonge trained separately on the pitch and in the gym due to a slight injury.

Osimhen scored a goal in a 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday.

Read Also: UCL: Osimhen third behind Haaland, Mbappe in goal stat

According to Sky Sport Italia, the Nigeria international does not risk missing the next Serie A match against Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari on Sunday, February 25, despite not training with his teammates today.

Osimhen has recently returned from AFCON international duty and the game against Barcelona was his first appearance at a club level in 2024.

The 25-year-old has netted nine goals in 19 appearances across all competitions this season.

Victor Osimhen ensured Napoli salvaged a draw in their Champions League clash with Barcelona and he now sits behind just Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe for recent home goals.

The Blaugrana took the lead in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash with the Partenopei on Wednesday, going 1-0 up after a 60th  minute goal from Robert Lewandowski. Napoli looked on track for defeat, until Osimhen had something to say about it.

The star striker scored 15 minutes later to keep things level for Napoli, giving them a strong hope of progressing to the quarterfinals ahead of their trip to Barcelona on March 12th . The match was Osimhen’s first since his Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Nigeria.

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As highlighted by TMW, Osimhen has now scored six Champions League goals for Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the third best home goals record over the last two seasons, behind just Haaland’s 12 and Mbappe’s nine.

Furthermore, the goal against Barcelona saw the Nigerian striker tie Lorenzo Insigne for goals scored in the Champions League with Napoli. He now sits just behind Dries Mertens, who netted 11 in Europe’s premier club competition.

The imminent move  of Kylian Mbappe from French Ligue 1 giants PSG to Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga  in the summer has opened  up a lot of possibilities for many strikers . Erstwhile Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr  believes Nigeria’s forward Victor Osimhen  would be worthy replacement  for the French World Cup winner, writes MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

Amid interesting offers for  Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, in next summer’s  transfer window, German coach Gernot Rohr believes  French giants, Paris Saint Germain(PSG), would be the most ideal destination for the Super Eagles striker.

Incidentally, only four Nigerian players had  previously featured for the Les Parisiens (The Parisians), with erstwhile Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, blazing the trail in the 1990s when he joined the French side from  Turkish side, Fenerbahce,  soon after he mesmerized  the soccer world with  his dribbling wizardry at the France 1998 FIFA World Cup.

But Rohr, who gave Osimhen  his international break with the Super Eagles in 2017  after he came on as a second half substitute for Ahmed Musa in the 3-0 thrashing of Togo in a friendly match at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret in Paris, has hinted that the 2023 African Footballer of the Year would fit perfectly into the scheme of things at the famous Parc des Princes, should he decide  to swap Naples for Paris during the eagerly-awaited  summer transfer window.

The 25-year-old striker has been one of Nigeria’s best  strikers in the last two  seasons in Europe as he helped Napoli clinch the Italian Serie A  title for the first time in 31 years, breaking several scoring records in the 2022/2023 season.

 Asides Napoli’s pivotal achievement, Osimhen  registered more accolades as he became the joint-highest goalscoring African in the Serie A alongside with Weah and even eclipsed Samuel Eto’o as the African player with the most goals in a single Italian championship season with 26 goals against the 24-goal record previously held by the Cameroonian. He also became the highest scoring African player in Serie A with as he overtook Weah’s 46-goal record to command attention of several top European clubs.

He was ranked 8th Best Player in the 2023 Ballon d’Or and became the first Nigerian player to make the top ten in the prestigious annual individual awards as well as being named the 2023 Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Footballer of the Year; and also named as the African Footballer of the Year for 2023 last December when he edged out both Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Liverpool  and Ashraf Hakimi of Morocco and PSG.

Already, the imminent move  of Kylian Mbappe from French Ligue 1 giants PSG to Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga in the summer has opened up a lot of possibilities for many strikers with the Les Rouges-et-Bleus (The Red-and-Blues), but Osimhen  would be worthy replacement  for the French World Cup winner, according to self-styled Franco-German  coach Rohr.

Late last year, transfer expert Gianluca di Marzio revealed that Manchester United would need to shell out between €130 million and €150 million to sign Osimhen from Napoli, adding that the Red Devils can afford to pay that sum since the  Nigerian has been United’s key target for a couple of seasons.

He stated: “Man United´s main target is definitely Osimhen and he has been that for at least two seasons. He is an excellent player and very unique with his skills. But I think that Osimhen could leave Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain could be a possibility for him.”

Yet many in  France are now  of the view that only Chelsea could probably snatch  Osimhen away with words rife that the Nigerian might  be swayed by the Didier  Drogba factor – his idol, who is a Chelsea legend.

Writing on PSG Talk, a writer, Eduardo, hinted as such: “Chelsea is keen on beating clubs like Paris Saint-Germain for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian goal scorer will be in high demand, considering his rise in the last two seasons. As a result, the Blues likely understand that they need to pull all the stops to land him.

 “But PSG views Osimhen as an ideal player to help replace Kylian Mbappé’s production when the Frenchman reportedly exits after his contract expires in June.”

Yet speaking on the development, Rohr, the former Bordeaux  coach and current manager of The Cheetahs of Benin, told  NationSports that Osimhen would be a worthy addition to PSG if he chooses to take the Paris route.

“Oh! Yes, and we would be happy to see him (Osimhen) in France again,” Rohr said cheerfully about his former ward who scored 46 goals in 100 appearances for French Ligue 1 side, Lille,  before moving to Napoli in 2019. “In fact, for Osimhen to replace Mbappe at PSG would be a wonderful challenge and I think he would be able to do it.”

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The 70-year-old tactician also alluded to the fact that there are varying interests and factors that may eventually determine Osimhen’s destination in the summer since he admitted during the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire that he would later reveal his final option.

“Of course, people like my friend, Ayotunde Adelakun,  who is a Chelsea fan would prefer Osimhen to go to Chelsea,” Rohr continued, as he further praised Osimhen for his meteoric rise. “It’s wonderful to see the progress he (Osimhen) has made and any of these big clubs would have to buy him now.

“But I’m very sure that Paris (PSG) would be good for him because he has the experience having played for Lille here in the  French League; and my advice to him is to come to Paris,” the former Bayern Munich defender added.

PAST NIGERIAN PLAYERS AT PSG

AUSTIN JAY-JAY OKOCHA

Position: Midfielder

Previous club: Fenerbahce           

Duration: 2nd  August 1998 to 30th  June 2001

Matches/Goals:  113/20

Later Club: Bolton Wanderers     

GODWIN OKPARA

Position: Defender

Previous club: RC Strasbourg      

Duration: 30th  June 1999 to 31st  Dec. 2001

Matches/Goals:  21/0

Later Club: Standard Liège

BARTHOLOMEW OGBECHE

Position: Attack

Previous club: Lobi Stars FC         

Duration: 30th  June 2001 to 31st  Dec. 2004

Matches/Goals: 75/8

Later Club: FC Metz

RABIU BAITA

Position: Attack

Previous club: Kano Pillars

Duration : 30th  June 2002 to 31st  Dec. 2003

Matches/Goals: None

Later Club: KAA Gent

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez  has admitted that  tonight’s  Champions League last 16 tie against Napoli  at the Stadio Maradona could be  tricky with the Italians now under new management even as he picked  Nigeria’s international striker Victor Osimhen as one of the players his side must pay attention to. 

Napoli sacked Walter Mazzarri and brought in Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona on Monday, 48 hours before they host Barcelona.

 “Napoli changed their coach in a surprising way, they have their reasons, but it’s not an easy match to prepare for, as we don’t know what to expect,” Xavi told the eve-of-match press conference.

He added: “The new manager knows the team well. I have no idea what tactical system he’s going to use.

 “What’s important is to focus on our style of play and what we want to do, on our ambitions which are to reach the quarter-finals.

 “What is certain is that we will have to defend well up against their very strong attacking trio.

”(Victor) Osimhen, (Khvicha) Kvaratskhelia and (Matteo) Politano can turn a game,” he added.

Incidentally, Calzona  only took charge  of  his first training session  yesterday  with Osimhen  and his Partenopei teammates available at  their Castel Volturno.

Read Also: Napoli target  Boniface as Osimhen’s replacement

January signing Cyril Ngonge was the only player reportedly  unable to take part in full training with the rest of the first team squad.

According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Ngonge trained individually on precautionary grounds, as he had been on the receiving end of a tough tackle during Monday’s session.

Yet irrespective  of situation of things at Napoli, Xavi denied his side were favourites going into the tie.

 “It’s 50-50, we’ll see tomorrow who is favourite at the end of the game,” added Xavi who has announced he is stepping down as Barca boss at the end of the season.

“It doesn’t change anything for me nor for my team. I’m motivated, and want to pass that motivation onto the team.

 “When you are a player or manager at Barcelona the pressure is always the same and it’s very strong.”

Barcelona, five time title-holders, failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League in the past two seasons, and were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 in 2021.

• Italian champions sack coach Walter Mazzarri

With Victor Osimhen  transfer  away from Napoli imminent  in the summer,  the Serie A champions  has reportedly listed  his  Nigerian compatriot and Bayer Leverkusen  forward, Victor Boniface as a possible  replacement.

Boniface  who missed the  just concluded  Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON)  2023 in Cote d’Ivoire  following an injury on the eve of the tournament,  is one of  Nigeria’s standout strikers  in the current  campaign in Europe  after notching an impressive  16 goals across  23 matches .

Yesterday, several Italian news outlets  including Football Italia , claimed  the 23-year-old former  Union Saint-Gilloise  striker  is being listed  among several others as likely replacement for ‘want away’ Osimhen.

According to Football Italia, Napoli will almost certainly have to let  Osimhen leave in the summer though  the 25-year-old striker last Christmas  extended his stay  to June 2026 with a new contract which included €130m release clause.

Incidentally, Osimhen recently told the press that he’s already decided his next step and is now expected to push for a departure from Napoli at the end of the season with Paris Saint-Germain now been heavily linked  to the Nigerian forward a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.

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Meanwhile, Andrea Ramazzotti of La Gazzetta dello Sport  believes  Napoli has  drawn a  list of possible  players as replacement  for  Osimhen with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee on the top of the shelf.

Others being mentioned  according  to Ramazzotti,  include Jonathan David  as well as Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface and Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez.

Meanwhile, Napoli  has  reportedly  dismissed head coach Walter Mazzarri and brought in Slovakia coach Francesco Calzona on a short-term contract.

As detailed by Gianluca Di Marzio, Napoli have communicated their decision to dismiss coach Mazzarri and are now ready to welcome Calzona, who will sign a six-month deal and lead the squad until the end of the season.

Calzona, who is also the manager of the Slovakia national team, will retain his role and lead the country at the European Championship in the summer.

Calzona will take over the Napoli training today (20th February), ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona the day after.

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to trigger the €130m (£111m) release clause in Victor Osimhen’s Napoli contract in order to secure the striker’s signature during this summer’s transfer window.

The 25-year-old scored 26 Serie A goals last season to help fire Napoli to the title, but it has been a different story for the Blues this season, with the team currently down in ninth position in the table.

Osimhen signed a new contract at Napoli last December, but his terms were only extended until June 2026, and he is set to leave the Italian champions during the summer market.

At the end of last month, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis told reporters: “This was already known since this summer, our negotiations [over the new contract] were friendly, otherwise it would not have been so long.

“We knew he would go to Real Madrid, PSG or a top English club.”

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Paris Saint-Germain are said to view Osimhen as a possible replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who has informed the club that he will be leaving on a free transfer this summer.

Real Madrid are set to finally complete a move for Mbappe, which will all but rule Carlo Ancelotti’s side out of the running for Osimhen.

According to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti, Chelsea are planning to ‘speed things up’ for Osimhen, with the Blues expecting firm competition from PSG in the light of the Mbappe news.

Galetti claimed  that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have already agreed to pay the full €130m (£111m) release clause, but the payment structure needs to be negotiated between the two clubs.

The Nigeria international was in strong form for Napoli during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 31 goals and registering five assists in 39 appearances in all competitions.

However, he has only managed eight goals and three assists in 18 appearances this term and has recently been absent for Napoli due to his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Osimhen helped Nigeria  reach the final of the tournament, but Cote d’Ivoire  recorded a 2-1 victory to secure the trophy on home soil, with Sebastian Haller netting the winner late on.

Napoli played out a 1-1 draw with Genoa in Serie A on Saturday and are now preparing to welcome Barcelona for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.

Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro is convinced that Victor Osimhen would be a hit at Barcelona should he decide to leave Napoli at the end of the season, Soccernet. ng reports.

Reigning Africa Footballer of the Year Osimhen is almost guaranteed to leave Napoli in the summer, with English moneybags Chelsea, Arsenal, and Newcastle thought to be the favourites for his signature.

Interests abound from other parts of Europe as well, with French champions Paris Saint Germain likely to see Osimhen as a potential replacement for the departing Kylian Mbappe.

Read Also: Osimhen ‘leading candidate’ to replace Mbappe at PSG

With Osimhen not expected to leave Napoli on the cheap, Barcelona are not often in the conversation for the Super Eagles striker’s possible destination.

Aside from the financial considerations, many reasons that Osimhen, with his direct style, would not be able to fit into the system at Barcelona.

 “I think he can play for any team in the world,” Peseiro told the Spanish publication, Sport.

 “Other associative players do not have his vertical movements, his aerial ability, or his pressure. He can play on the best team in the world.”

Nigeria star striker Victor Osimhen is now the “leading candidate” to replace Kylian Mbappe at PSG, according to various credible reports including The Athletic.

Mbappe will quit PSG when his contract runs out.

PSG are therefore shopping for a direct replacement for the France international star.

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“Victor Osimhen figures prominently on Paris Saint-Germain’s list to replace Kylian Mbappe. #PSG preparing for the possible exit since summer + stepped up multiple discussions in January to be ready for June. 25yo Napoli striker strong contender @TheAthleticFC,” David Ornstein posted on X

Napoli have already said Osimhen will quit the club in the summer even though he recently extended his contract with them till June 2026.

PSG attacker Kylian Mbappe will leave the French giants this summer as a free agent, having informed the club of his decision.

The Frenchman has finally informed PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi that he will depart the Parc Des Princes outfit at the end of the 2023/2024 campaign, leaving speculations of a possibility of joining Spanish La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid on a free transfer.

The terms of the French superstar’s departure have yet to be fully agreed between the club and the player, but it is certain he will not remain with the reigning Ligue 1 champions beyond this summer.

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Mbappe who has 44 goals in 68 games in the UEFA Champions League, will bring to an end a seven-year stint with Les Parisiens, which he joined in 2017 as a youngster from AS Monaco and will eventually leave as the top scorer in the French club’s history.

Meanwhile, PSG can have plenty of time to prepare massive signings that can keep the fans relatively calm at losing their star man and that could have a knock-on effect in Serie A.

The most likely targets for the Ligue 1 giants are Milan winger Leao and Napoli centre-forward Osimhen, potentially even going for them both.

They have recently signed new contracts with massive release clauses, as Leao is expected to be at circa €175m and Osimhen closer to €130m.