SSC Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen has found a fresh wave of statistics and permutations coming his way, with an Italian Serie A expert forecasting more goals off the youngster’s boots, megasportsarena.com reports.
Speaking in the wake of Osimhen’s return to goals scoring form last weekend, as he hit home his fourth of the season in the 4-3 spanking of Simone Tochukwu Nwankwo’s Crotone, the verdict from Sky Sport Italia pundit Fabio Caressa is that the Naples-based side’s costliest signing ever is capable of more heroics.
In putting his money on Osimhen for more goals, Caressa opined that Napoli would have scored up to four per game this season if the club’s coach, Gennaro Gattuso had been able to count on the lethal partnership of the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorer and Dries Mertens.
However, a shoulder injury and coronavirus infection, coupled with a red card in continental action, made Osimhen unavailable for selection for 20 matches across all competitions, while the more experienced Belgium striker has missed 12 games this season due to ankle injuries.
Dramatically, though, with both players battling back to full fitness, Osimhen and Mertens were both on song for the side that netted four against Simy’s Crotone on Saturday, thereby giving credence to the verdict from Caressa.
In the same vein, Napoli have won five of their last six matches, drawing the other, with only the current Serie A table-toppers, Inter Milan flaunting a better record, but Caressa believes Gatusso’s side would be deadlier with Osimhen and Mertens, who will hope to consolidate against defending champions Juventus this Wednesday in the Serie A.
Caressa told Sky Sport Italia: “Gattuso will be re-reading the list of all those who have criticized him, probably the soccer players.
“At a certain point of the season, Napoli found themselves taking the field without important players like Mertens and Osimhen, with them they would have scored four goals per game.”
