2006 Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro admits he would have struggled to mark Osimhen of last season 

Retired Italy international and 2006 Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro has admitted that it would have been difficult for him to stop Victor Osimhen from wreaking havoc assuming he was still playing football last season. 

The Nigeria international had a breakout 2022-2023 campaign, playing a starring role as Napoli won the Italian Serie A title for the first time in thirty-three years. 

With 26 goals - his highest for a club in a single season - Osimhen won the Capocannoniere, awarded to the top goalscorer in the Serie A and also scooped the Italian Serie A Best Striker prize. 

However, the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Boot winner has struggled to match his outstanding performances from the previous season, amid speculation surrounding his future at Napoli and fitness issues. 

Five matches to the end of the season, Osimhen has registered a total of fifteen goals across all competitions in the 2023-2024 campaign.

When asked if he has seen a striker and thought he would hardly be able to stop him, Fabio Cannavaro told Radio Serie A, via Tutto Napoli: ". In the games with Lilian (Thuram ed.), Nesta, Maldini... I knew I could go early, because if I made a mistake I was covered. 

"Today this happens very little. But there are attackers like Osimhen, not from this year but from last year, who was certainly difficult to mark."

Cannavaro was appointed new coach of Udinese on Monday and will be working with Osimhen's international teammates Isaac Success and Maduka Okoye for the remainder of the season. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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