Napoli manager, Walter Mazzarri, has expressed his concerns about Victor Osimhen’s readiness for action. Osimhen recently returned to training after his involvement in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he represented Nigeria. Despite rejoining the squad, the 25-year-old striker was not included in the matchday squad for Napoli’s fixture against Genoa on Saturday.
Mazzarri emphasized that Osimhen’s absence from the squad was due to fitness concerns rather than any other reason. The manager acknowledged that the Nigerian forward has been working diligently in training to regain his peak physical condition after his rigorous participation in seven matches within a month during the AFCON tournament held in Cote d’Ivoire.
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While Mazzarri praised Osimhen’s commitment to training and his eagerness to return to action, he admitted that the player is not yet fully fit. The manager emphasized the importance of prioritizing Osimhen’s long-term fitness and avoiding unnecessary risks by rushing his return to competitive matches.
“According to him and the medics, he was down to his last legs. He had a series of muscular issues and it would’ve been madness to play him here for 15 minutes and then risk losing him for months,” Mazzarri said after the game.
“It was wise, as the player himself agreed, to rest better and hope he can be ready for Barcelona. I say hope because I barely ever worked with Osimhen due to injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations, he was never in shape.”
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