Napoli boss Rudi Garcia reprimanded Victor Osimhen over his performance in the Neapolitans’ 3-1 win over Frosinone.
Garcia has revealed that he admonished Osimhen during the interval, as he demanded more from the Nigerian forward.
The former Lille striker scored a brace in the game, helping Napoli secure a victory in their opening game of the 2023/24 Serie A season.
Rudi Garcia expressed that he was comfortable with Victor Osimhen’s attacking performances, but defensively he “didn’t like him at all”.
Speaking with DAZN, the Frenchman said: “Offensively, he was excellent, he scored two goals and there is nothing I can tell him.”
Rudi Garcia on the performance of Victor Osimhen
Concerning the defensive showing of Osimhen, Garcia added: “Defensively, I didn’t like him at all and I told him during the break.
“He used to press more and defend better in the past. We changed this thing in the second half and we played with more quality.”
Victor Osimhen finished the 2022/23 Serie A season as the top-scorer, with 26 goals in 32 league matches.
The Nigeria international assisted Napoli to win the Italian top-flight division, for the first time in 33 years.
Meanwhile, despite Rudi Garcia not being content with the performance of Osimhen, he noted the leadership qualities of the 24-year-old.
He said: “He is a leader and this will never change, it’s his strong point.”
When did Osimhen join Napoli?
Victor Osimhen joined Napoli from Lille on September 1, 2020, for a transfer fee of €75 million.
The ex-Wolfsburg forward has been remarkable for Napoli, since he made his debut on September 20, 2020.
Osimhen has scored 61 goals and provided 14 assists in 102 appearances for Napoli across all competitions.
Despite staggering offers being tabled for the Nigerian, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis isn’t ready to let go of his priced asset.
The Neapolitans have demanded a €200 million asking price from any club, looking to sign Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen is the most expensive signing in the history of Napoli, and any club looking to acquire the Nigerian would have to fork out a huge amount to sign him.
The 24-year-old has also revealed that he is discussing with De Laurentiis over a new deal.
He said: “There was a lot of speculation which is true. The president is the boss. We are still negotiating over a new contract, we’ll see at the end of the transfer window.”
Victor Osimhen has been linked with a move away from Napoli all summer long, but it seems he might be remaining in Naples.
This news brings soothing relief to supporters of the Serie A champions, as Osimhen is arguably the club’s most influential player.
He has been linked with a potential move to Al Hilal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Victor Osimhen is a workaholic goal-poacher, who has got excellent attributes, including; finishing, athleticism, pace, and energy.
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