'Could have done better' - Napoli coach admits Osimhen wasn't in top condition after Nigeria duty

Published: April 11, 2022

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti thinks that the club's record acquisition Victor Osimhen was not at his best during the Blues' 3-2 loss to Fiorentina in a Serie A match at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Spalletti underlined that the number nine missed some training sessions before the game following his commitments with the Super Eagles for the internationals in March.

Osimhen was given some days off to attend to some personal issues in his homeland after the games with Ghana.

The 23-year-old suffered an injury scare in training last Wednesday, but the following day he was passed fit by the club medics to take to the field against Fiorentina.

For the first time this season and only the second in his Napoli career, Osimhen was on target and provided an assist in a match, but Spalletti wasn't pleased with the overall display of the Nigerian.

In quotes relayed by Spazio Naploi citing DAZN, Spalletti said : "Fiorentina play man against man and leave this field open that can be exploited, but only if you come out of the duels with quality.

"Probably something better could have been done in those long balls: Osimhen was not in top condition, he missed some training sessions and was fresh from his commitments with the national team, but he could certainly have done better in duels."

With 32 games played, Napoli are third in the Serie A standings, two points behind leaders AC Milan.

Igho Kingsley

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