SSC Napoli of Italy has gained support from a most unexpected source in his effort to correct impressions going round about his lack of discipline and reckless conduct that led to him contracting coronavirus, as Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has spoken out in his favour, megasportsarena.com reports.
While many football fans across the world are still slamming Osimhen for getting carried away by the euphoria of celebrating his birthday during the yuletide festivities, Rohr says the lad was virtually forced to participate in the party, as he had been sleeping before his family members called him out.
Osimhen eventually went on to allegedly contract COVID-19 during the said party, which drew the ire of his club officials in Italy and he was slammed with a heavy fine on his return to his base from Lagos, while a compulsory 14-day quarantine added to the long spell he had already faced due to injury.
His time out might now extend even further, as Napoli’s medical crew disclosed at the start of the week that the youngster will have to go for another COVID-19 test, as the former VfL Wolfsburg of Germany, Sporting Charleroi of Belgium and Lille Metropole of France striker is yet to overcome the highly contagious respiratory ailment, despite spending 14 days in isolation.
Consequently, Napoli’s medics have confirmed that Osimhen will take another COVID-19 test, in order for the 22-year-old attacker to be certified fully free of coronavirus, following a verdict by the club that a molecular nasopharyngeal swab produced another positive result and the player will have to repeat the test this week.
As the youngster faces a myriad of setbacks off and on the pitch, as he is still recovering from a shoulder dislocation he copped on national team duty in November.
He has scored only twice in just six matches for his club, while missing 12 others due to the injury, Rohr insists the lad did not deliberately go out of his way to break COVID-19 rules and assured that he will not repeat the error.
Rohr told ESPN: “It is just unfortunate that things turned out the way they did because all he wanted to do was come home and spend time with his family and then go back and do his best for his club.
“You know Victor, he is young, he is very humble. He was actually home sleeping when some members of his family decided to throw a surprise party for him. They woke him up and got him to come downstairs.
“Out of respect for everyone, he came down, but he spent less than 10 minutes before going back to his room. This was for him a mistake, but he will learn and he will be strong after.”
