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Tag: Osimhen

  • Napoli denies frosty relationship with Osimhen

    Napoli denies frosty relationship with Osimhen

    Napoli have denied reports that owner Aurelio De Laurentiis shared negative comments about Victor Osimhen.

    De Laurentiis was quoted by Mediaset to have said he is willing to sell the Nigerian if he fails to sign a new contract.

    The club said it plans to resume negotiations with the Nigeria international’s agent over a contract extension in the next few weeks.

    “President de Laurentiis never shared any negative comment about Victor. He just said that after verbally agreeing on plan to sign a new deal, Osimhen changed his mind,” a statement released by the club said.

    Read Also: Osimhen to miss three Napoli matches

    “We hope it’s just stand-by moment to think about it. In the next weeks we will discuss with his agent Calenda about the future.

    “Reports of a tense situation between Napoli and Osimhen are 100% wide of the mark.”

    The 24-year-old is currently sidelined after sustaining a thigh injury on international duty last weekend.

    He has scored six times in 10 appearances across all competitions for Rudi Garcia’s side this season.

  • Osimhen to miss three Napoli matches

    Osimhen to miss three Napoli matches

    Napoli have confirmed that Victor Osimhen has suffered an injury to his thigh while away on international duty, meaning that he will likely be ruled out of a number of the Partenopei’s upcoming matches.

    Osimhen had limped off early during Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Roberto Mancini’s Saudi Arabia on Friday and has since left the camp to return to Naples for medical examinations.

    A statement posted on Napoli’s official club website confirmed that the 2022-23 Serie A Capocannoniere has suffered a medium-grade lesion of the biceps femoris in his right thigh.

    Read Also: Hamstring injury: Osimhen returns to Italy

    It is expected that Osimhen will be ruled out for at least three of Napoli’s next matches, however, Sky Sport Italia have noted that the usual recovery time for this sort of injury is typically around four to six weeks.

    Rudi Garcia will now have to do without his leading goalscorer, at a minimum, for the upcoming matches against Hellas Verona in Serie A, as well as the Champions League trip to Union Berlin, as well as the visit from Milan the following weekend.

  • Hamstring injury: Osimhen returns to Italy

    Hamstring injury: Osimhen returns to Italy

    Victor Osimhen has returned to his base in Italy as the Super Eagles striker awaits the scan result of the  hamstring injury he suffered during Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Saudi Arabia at the weekend.

    Osimhen was replaced in the 55th   minute due to a hamstring injury and he has been ruled out from today’s friendly against Mambas of Mozambique.

    Read Also: International Friendly: Super Eagles battle Mambas without Osimhen, Iheanacho

    But  decent sources at the Super Eagles camp yesterday informed that the result of the MRI  scan conducted in Portugal is expected  today even as the player has  jetted out to his base in  Naples for further evaluation by his Italian club, Napoli.

    “We should have a clearer picture about the extent of the hamstring injury by Monday,” a source told NationSport.

  • Ex-EPL goalie warns Osimhen over Chelsea move

    Ex-EPL goalie warns Osimhen over Chelsea move

     Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is not sure if Chelsea are a good fit for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

    Victor Osimhen has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, but Hislop has shared his concerns over the Nigerian joining Mauricio Pochettino’s side on ESPN FC.

    According to ESPN, Chelsea have added Osimhen to their list of possible targets for the January transfer window. The Blues signed Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal in the summer but still appear to be in the market for a centre-forward.

    According to Hislop, Stamford Bridge may not be the right environment for Osimhen.

    The ESPN pundit said: “While Chelsea may have the money, while Chelsea may be willing to pay him more than most, I’m not sure that’s a good fit right now for Victor Osimhen.”

    Read Also: Chelsea target Osimhen move in January

    90min recently reported that if Osimhen signs a new contract at Napoli, his deal could include a release clause set at around £130m.

    It is obviously a lot of money, but with Osimhen, you are looking at one of the best centre-forwards in the world.

    In the 2022/23 Serie A campaign, where Napoli went on to claim the Italian league title, the 24-year-old scored 26 goals in 32 appearances.

    Former Liverpool player Don Hutchison has hailed him as “world-class”, and it is not hard to see why.

    From Osimhen’s perspective, perhaps he will have some doubts about joining Chelsea given the position that they are in. But if the Blues have an opportunity to sign him, then they should take it.

  • Chelsea target Osimhen move in January

    Chelsea target Osimhen move in January

    Chelsea is not giving up on their pursuit of Victor Osimhen as the management of the English Premiership side have added the Napoli striker to their list of possible January targets.

    According to ESPN, Chelsea are in the market for a centre-forward and are already monitoring Brentford’s Ivan Toney, who is also attracting interest from Arsenal.

    Osimhen has forged a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting strikers after scoring 26 goals in 32 league games last season as Napoli secured their first Serie A title since 1990.

    That fine form — which has continued into this season with six goals from 10 games — has led Napoli to price Osimhen in the region of £120 million ($147.7m), which is around £40million higher than Toney’s valuation.

    Read Also: Tinubu: ‘Atiku will always fail’

    Chelsea are hoping to have Christopher Nkunku — a £52m summer signing from RB Leipzig — available early in the New Year following knee surgery to rival Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja to lead their attack but want to strengthen their options despite taking spending under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital past the £1 billion mark this summer.

    It is unclear at this stage whether Chelsea or Arsenal will formally pursue Osimhen in January — Real Madrid have also been credited with an interest — and much may depend on how talks progress with Brentford over Toney.

    Napoli are hoping to keep Osimhen until next summer — at least — as they attempt to tie the 24-year-old down to a new contract but talks have slowed, firstly over the size of the release clause the player wants included, but then over a TikTok post the club later deleted.

    The club’s official account appeared to mock Osimhen after he missed a penalty in a 0-0 draw against Bologna last month, an act which brought condemnation from the player’s agent, Roberto Calenda, and a formal apology from Napoli officials.

    The player’s contract expires in June 2025 and any sustained refusal to sign a new deal will give interested clubs fresh hope he can be prised away from Napoli in January.

  • Osimhen’s Napoli may sack Garcia

    Osimhen’s Napoli may sack Garcia

    There are indications that Napoli may part ways with Coach Rudi Garcia following the poor title defense of the team in the Serie A.

    Victor Osimhen and his teammates suffered their second defeat of the season against Fiorentina after a 1-3 loss at home to the visitors at the weekend with fans fuming over the team’s display since Garcia took charge of the team this season.

    So far this season, Napoli had played eight matches with four wins, two draws and two loses with the defeats suffered at home against Lazio and Fiorentina.

    A top Italian journalist, Bologna Paolo Bargiggia described Garcia’s style of play as poor and scholastic.

    “There’s no point in going around it: Garcia’s football is too poor and scholastic. If you don’t have Kim and also lower the team like that because you don’t play with possession and stay long, the omelette is done. Yet another substitution for Osimhen: madness,” Bargiggia tweeted after Napoli’s defeat against Fiorentina.

    Also, Gianluca Di Marzio, Sky Sports market expert revealed that Garcia could be sacked by Napoli.

    Read Also: Saka ruled out for England through injury

    “Possible upheaval at Napoli: Rudi Garcia could be sacked.”  Di Marzio wrote via his official website, “On Monday there was a meeting between the parties. These are important hours of reflection in the Azzurri team: Aurelio De Laurentiis will have to make a decision. He himself had strongly wanted the former Roma after Luciano Spalletti’s farewell.”

    The Napoli president is now seriously considering dismissing the Frenchman in the coming days, which would allow him to find a replacement over the international break.

    However, another top Italian media ANSA believes Garcia should remain at least until the next match.

    “We are moving towards the confirmation of Rudi Garcia on the Napoli bench after the meeting held late in the morning between the French coach and the club’s top management. Apparently De Laurentiis would have decided to postpone any decision on the coach’s future until the next championship break, in November, unless the crisis worsened even more deeply,” the paper wrote.

  • Osimhen deserves praise for making FIFA’s ‘Best Men’s Player Award’ final 12-man shortlist – Basketmouth

    Osimhen deserves praise for making FIFA’s ‘Best Men’s Player Award’ final 12-man shortlist – Basketmouth

    Veteran comedian, Bright Okpocha aka Basketmouth has tagged Nigerian professional footballer a winner for securing a spot on FIFA’s ‘Best Men’s Player Award’ final 12-man shortlist.

    He disclosed this during an interview with The Punch where he lauded Osimhen for the feat considering the caliber of footballers on the said list.

    He said whether the Napoli star eventually clinches the FIFA award or not, he’s as good as being called a winner.

    The interview asked: “Victor Osimhen has made the final 12-man shortlist for the FIFA Best Men’s Player award. Do you think he stands a chance against Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi?”

    Responding, Basketmouth stated: “Yeah, he stands a chance, he’s been very impressive with the title he won and the Golden Boot too in Italy.

    “Someone like Messi should leave that place, he has won enough, he should leave the other ones. The thing is, most times, it’s not even whether he wins or not. The fact that he’s been listed; that he was shortlisted to be on that same platform is a win for me.

    “Like when my albums were nominated for the Headies awards alongside those that have been doing music for 12 years or more, it’s a win for me even though I didn’t get the award.”

    Read Also: Napoli consider Jesus as Osimhen’s replacement

    The Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, made the final 12-man shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Player of The Year award.

    The list, which was released by the world football body on Thursday, had the Napoli forward as the only African still in the race for the most coveted football individual prize, after his compatriot, Asisat Oshola, failed to make the final shortlist for the women’s category of the prestigious awards.

    The final 12 nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award are Julian Alvarez, Marcelo Brozovic, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Victor Osimhen, Declan Rice and Bernardo Silva.

    Osimhen helped Napoli win the Italian Serie A last season with 31 goals in all competitions. At the international scene, Victor Osimhen emerged as the African Highest Goal Scorer in the African Nations Cup Qualifier with 10 goals.

    The Naples-based club won the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years with the help of the former Lille forward last season and they intend to defend the title next season counting on the services of the world-class striker.

    Meanwhile, the Super Eagles forward has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Chelsea, having established himself as one of the most clinical strikers in Europe.

    Osimhen is also on the radar of French Ligue 1 champions PSG, while Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich consider him as an alternative option to their primary target Harry Kane.

  • Napoli consider Jesus as Osimhen’s replacement

    Napoli consider Jesus as Osimhen’s replacement

    The last is yet to be heard about the frosty relationship between Victor Osimhen and Napoli as the club management are ‘considering Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus’ as a potential replacement for the Nigerian.

    Osimhen was a big part of the Italian side’s first Serie A title in 33 years last season, as he topped the league scoring charts with 26 goals.The goals have continued this season, but his future at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is uncertain after a row over the club’s TikTok.

    Osimhen was the subject of two offensive clips shared on the popular social media app, with the first seemingly deriding him for missing a penalty late last month. The second then labelled him a ‘coconut’ and has been viewed as a racial slur.

    Read Also: Osimhen: I can only buy Birkin bag for a lady if…

    His agent threatened to sue the Serie A side in the wake of the fallout and Napoli responded by insisting that no offence was intended, though they did not apologise. Napoli’s social media executive has since stepped down from his role.

    The incident has left a January exit for Oismhen very likely, and Napoli appear to be searching for a replacement already.

    According to reports in Calciomercato, Rudi Garcia’s side have identified Jesus as one option, along with Lille’s Jonathan David and Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.

    Jesus was hampered by injuries in his first season at Arsenal but still scored 11 goals in 26 league games as they finished second in the league.

    David has been among the brighter strikers in France over the past few seasons and scored 26 goals across all competitions for Lille last season.

    Morata is the only one of the three with experience of Italian football after two spells at Juventus, and he is in excellent form after scoring seven goals in seven games for Atleti this sseason

  • Osimhen: I can only buy Birkin bag for a lady if…

    Osimhen: I can only buy Birkin bag for a lady if…

    Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has stated that he can’t spend on a lady who doesn’t return same energy by spending on him.

    According to the footballer, he doesn’t really care much about looks in a woman.

    He asserted this in an interview with media personality, Korty on Flow with Korty.

    Read Also: Diezani’s UK trial: Justice abroad?

    He noted that he wouldn’t be doing anything for a lady if she’s not willing to bring anything to the table.

    Victor added that he cannot imagine buying a Birkin bag which costs over hundred thousand naira only for the lady to wish me with ‘a king was born today’.

    “I cannot buy a birkin bag for a girl and e reach my turn, you are telling me ‘a king is born today,” he partly said.

  • Napoli may sue toy company over Osimhen’s image

    Napoli may sue toy company over Osimhen’s image

    Serie A champions Napoli have announced they will head to court after they alleged that Victor Osimhen’s image rights were breached with the unautorised release of a toy in the image of the star striker.

    “We’re denying any report on the Italian media about releasing kids toy ‘Cicciobello Bomber’ inspired by Victor Osimhen in Napoli shirt,” an official statement by Napoli said.

     “That product was not authorized by the club — we will settle this issue in court”.

    Read Also: Four PSG players suspended after anti-gay chants

    The contentious toy is in the image of Osimhen with a mask and a bleached top hair.

    It has previously been reported that image rights of the player have bogged down talks over a new Napoli contract.

    This latest controversy is coming on the heels of the TikTok video posts that caused Osimhen’s agent to threaten legal action against Napoli.

    This saga has since been put to rest after the Osimhen camp abandoned the legal action and Napoli issued a statement explaining the episode.