© Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
Few teams have lit up world football this season like Napoli. They sit atop the Serie A table, eight points clear of second place AC Milan, and have blazed through their Champions League group leaving a trail of destruction behind them.
Their team spirit, tenacity, and hard work has been a marvel to watch. They seem tireless and impossible to contain, with each player giving his all from the first minute to the last. So many of the Napoli players have dazzled in their electric start to the season, including Georgian prodigy Kvaratskhelia, Slovakian midfield architect Stansilav Lobotka, and home-grown Italian talents Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Giacamo Raspadori. However, it has been the formidable masked forward Victor Osimhen that has caught the world's attention, with many experts tipping him for a big money transfer next summer. Keep reading to find out more.
Napoli's Form
Napoli have had one of their best starts to a football season in their history. Their success has come as a surprise to some, the team lost key players in the summer, with David Opsina, Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Fabian Ruiz all departing.One could be forgiven for assuming this would be something of a rebuilding season for Napoli. As it turns out, it has been quite the opposite. They have gone unbeaten so far in Serie A and sit comfortably at the top of the table. Meanwhile, their Champions League performances have been nothing less than extraordinary. They shocked the world when they thrashed last year's finalists Liverpool 4 – 1, before giving out similar beatings to Rangers and Ajax. Despite eventually losing to Liverpool at Anfield, Napoli comfortably qualified for the tournament's group stages and are among the favourites on platforms like 10bet SA sports online betting to go on and win the tournament.
How Has Victor Osimhen Performed?
While Napoli's success is all about team work rather than a reliance on individual moments of magic, there can be no taking away from Osimhen's contributions this season. He has bagged nine goals and three assists in Serie A so far, with one goal in three appearances in the Champions League. Unfortunately, an injury has meant he spent the remainder of the pre-break season on the side lines, but he is expected to make a full recovery and rejoin the team soon.It's not just his goal contributions that make Osimhen an integral part of the team. The Nigerian forward, who wears a mask due to a previous injury causing several facial fractures, is also an incredibly hard worker off the ball.
His movement, spatial awareness, and sense of positioning are world class. He is constantly moving in and out of space to stretch opponents' defensive lines and create openings for either himself or his teammates to exploit and take advantage of. He has an expert sense of when and where to make his runs, deftly toeing the offside line ready to explode forward when the chance allows.
Taking advantage of high defensive lines is one thing, navigating a dense low block is another. Osimhen has demonstrated his ability to both. He can pick out a pinpoint pass into the box and take rocketing, accurate shots past defenders, and an invaluable combination of skills for a modern forward.
It will come as no surprise given his form so far that Osimhen has caught the eye of many major European clubs. Where could he go if a big offer came in next summer? Let's find out.
Where Could He Go?
Despite Osimhen confirming through his agent that he is happy at Napoli and has no plans to leave, he has nonetheless been linked with a number of other clubs. PSG, Liverpool, and Arsenal have all been reported to have shown interest in the forward, but it has been the recent links with Manchester United that have made the headlines.Manchester United have been closely monitoring Osimhen since the summer, but after the recent controversy that is likely to see Cristiano Ronaldo permanently depart Old Trafford, the club will be eager to bring in a new striker as soon as possible.
The rumours ramped up a notch when it was revealed that there is an agreement in place between Osimhen and Napoli that will allow him to leave should a suitable bid arrives. Exactly how much Napoli are looking for is subject to debate, but if reports are to be believed they'll be demanding up to nearly £100m for the Nigerian's signature.
