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Tag: Victor Osimhen

  • Serie A: Osimhen grabs 100th career goal as Napoli beat Sassuolo

    Serie A: Osimhen grabs 100th career goal as Napoli beat Sassuolo

    Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen reached a milestone on Sunday after grabbing his 100th club goal in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo in Naples.

    The prolific striker scored Napoli’s first goal from the Penalty spot in the encounter to take his campaign so far this season to three goals in two matches.

    Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo made sure Napoli would make it six points from six in the 64th minute.

    Di Lorenzo’s first goal of the campaign came after some magical play from the returning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who made his season debut an hour into a one-sided contest at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

    Kvaratskhelia scored 14 times last season and set up the same number again, and he made his mark just three minutes after replacing Italy forward Matteo Politano.

    The Georgian was surrounded by defenders near the penalty area but took a couple of steps forward before slipping in Di Lorenzo for a simple low finish.

    Napoli have started their Serie A title defence very well so far with back-to-back wins in their first two games of the season against newly promoted Fiorinese and Sassuolo.

    Napoli, currently tie with AC Milan and Verona at the top of the table, will host Lazio next week. Lazio, who are still struggling to secure their first points of the season, suffered a 1-0 defeat against newly promoted Genoa.

  • Serie A: Osimhen grabs brace in Napoli’s 3-1 win against Frosinone

    Serie A: Osimhen grabs brace in Napoli’s 3-1 win against Frosinone

    Last season Serie A top scorer, Victor Osimhen was on target twice as Napoli opened the defense of their Serie A title with 3-1 away win against Frosinone at the Stadio Benito Stirpe on Saturday night.

    The home team drew the first blood in the 7th minute of the encounter, when Morrocco midfielder Abdulrahman converted from the spot.

    Matteo Politano equalised for Napoli in the 24th minute.

    Napoli took the lead for the first time in the game three minutes before the break when Osimhen fired home a thunderous shot for his first goal of the season.

    The lanky Striker then scored another brilliant goal 11 minute after to seal victory for the Serie A champions.

     

    Giovanni Simeone  replaced Osimhen in the 81st minute of the encounter.

  • Serie A: Osimhen injured in Napoli training, may miss league opener

    Serie A: Osimhen injured in Napoli training, may miss league opener

    Napoli and Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen suffered a severe injury to his ankle during training at Napoli on Tuesday evening.

    The lanky forward was stretched out of the training ground by Napoli medics.

    The Partenopei announced that the Nigeria international left training prematurely due to the setback.

    “Osimhen left training prematurely due to a sprain to his right ankle,” reads a statement on the club’s official website.

    The 24-year-old, according to another report, sustained the injury after colliding with new signing Nathan during a practice match.

    He was visibly pained as he limped off the pitch and instantly applied an ice pack to his ankle.

    The striker is not expected to be out of action for a long time.

    The 2023–24 Serie A season is expected to kick off on August 19.

    The Partenopei will face newly promoted Frosinone in their opening fixture.

  • Transfers: PSG offers Napoli N98 billion for Victor Osimhen

    Transfers: PSG offers Napoli N98 billion for Victor Osimhen

    Paris Saint-Germain are set to table a second bid of €120m, about 98 billion in Naira, for Nigerian forward, Victor Osimhen.

    Recall that the French champions had their initial offer of €100m for Osimhen rejected in June.

    Although the new bid falls short of Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis’ valuation, it has proven to be a good deal for the Nigerian forward and Napoli.

    A price tag of €150 million has been slammed on Osimhen’s head by Napoli but no club has been willing to match it.

    “The only club that could afford Victor Osimhen is Paris Saint-Germain,” De Laurentiis revealed to Mediaset.

    “If (PSG president) Nasser Al Khelaifi wants to send in a bid around €200 million, we wait and see what happens. I personally think that Victor will stay here.”

    Meanwhile, according to Calciomercato, the negotiations between Osimhen and Napoli for his contract extension are underway, with the club aiming to introduce a release clause that would only become valid in the summer of 2024 for a fee exceeding €100m.

    De Laurentiis told Osimhen’s agent that he would only entertain offers close to €200m in this summer’s transfer window. Despite the gap in negotiations, Napoli remain determined to please their star player with a suitable contract.

    Bayern Munich has shown considerable interest in Osimhen, but they consider Napoli’s economic demands outrageous and have chosen to halt negotiations. As of now, PSG pose the biggest obstacle for the Azzurri, as they have identified the Nigeria international as the ideal replacement for World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé.

    French sources indicate that PSG are on the verge of submitting an offer of around €120m.

    Osimhen netted 26 goals and provided five assists in 32 league appearances last season, which played a pivotal role in Napoli clinching the Serie A title after more than three decades.

    Osimhen also became the first African player to secure the prestigious Capocannoniere award, given to the top scorer in Serie A.

    Osimhen has been granted permission to extend his holidays in Nigeria.

  • Napoli extend Osimhen’s holiday period in Nigeria

    Napoli extend Osimhen’s holiday period in Nigeria

    Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen has been given the go-ahead by his Italian club side, Napoli to spend more time on holidays in Nigeria.

    While the other Napoli players are set to convene at their pre-season training camp in Dimaro on Monday, July 10, where they will commence the first part of their summer schedule, Osimhen has been accorded additional time to enjoy the summer break.

    Osimhen has been holidaying in Nigeria since the summer break at the end of May.

    The prolific forward scored plenty of goals for Napoli and helped them win the scudetto first time in 33 years.

    There are reports that French side Paris Saint Germain are interested in signing Osimhem to replace Kyllian Mbappe.

     

     

  • Transfers: Victor Osimhen’s preferred club revealed

    Transfers: Victor Osimhen’s preferred club revealed

    Napoli hero, and former Italy playmaker,  Salvatore Bagni has revealed that striker, Victor Osimhen is interested in joining English Premier League side Napoli FC.

    According to Bagni, Osimhen will join either of Chelsea or Liverpool next season.

    The Nigerian international has attracted interest from many top European clubs, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain

    But Bagni believes Osimhen could also  join Manchester United or Real Madrid.

    He said “Victor Osimhen won’t return to France because he already played there,” Bagni said while speaking to Si Gonfia la Rite (via Tutto Napoli). “The same thing with Germany.

    “He doesn’t go to Liverpool or Chelsea because they do not play the Champions League.

    “Of all the teams associated with him, for me, he would only go to Manchester United and Real Madrid. He’s not interested in the other teams.”

  • Osimhen wins best Africa Player Award

    Osimhen wins best Africa Player Award

    Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has won the Best African Player award ahead of Algerian and Manchester City forward, Riyadh Mahrez and Mohammed Salah at the Ghana Football Awards.

    Osimhen scored 31 goals in all competitions last season to help Napoli win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years.

    The Nigerian forward shone lika a million stars for club and country last season thereby scooping many international and local awards.

    The Ghana football awards has also recognized his heroics.

    Osimhen, in a video online, thanked the organisers for the award and promised to make Africa proud.

    The video was posted on the official Twitter account of the Ghana Football Awards.

    “It is a great privilege for me to win this award, it’s really a great honour. Thank you to those who voted for me and the support. Major thanks to the organisers of Ghana Football Awards for their love and support also, I appreciate you all for this recognition.

    “I will keep making Africa proud, thank you all and God bless you,” he said.

    The former Lille striker scored 31 goals last season in all competitions for Napoli and helped his club to win the title after a 33-year hiatus.

    He was also impactful for the Eagles, scoring twice as the Eagles beat Sierra Leone 3-2 to qualify for next year’s AFCON in Ivory Coast.

    The striker’s brilliant season also saw him win the top scorer award with 26 goals and also went further to break the former World Player of the Year George Weah’s long-time record as the African with the highest number of goals in Serie A history.

    He was awarded the best striker in the league and is also a strong candidate for the best player’s gong at this year’s CAF awards.

    Osimhen will also compete in the 2024 CAF Awards coming up soon.

  • Serie A: Osimhen, Napoli contract extension talks fail

    Serie A: Osimhen, Napoli contract extension talks fail

    Victor Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda and Napoli couldn’t reach an agreement on a new contract for the Nigerian forward.

    According to Sky Italia, Calendar met with Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis to sort out details of a new contract but no agreement was reached.

    Napoli want Osimhen to sign a new two-year contract with a pay rise.

    The Nigeria international is however keen on a move elsewhere.

    Both parties are expected to meet again soon to find an amicable solution.

    Osimhen has been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

    Napoli want at least €150m for their star striker who was top scorer in Serie A last season with 26 goals.

  • PSG set to replace Mbappe with Osimhen, table N134 billion bid for him

    PSG set to replace Mbappe with Osimhen, table N134 billion bid for him

    Paris Saint Germain are set to release a whopping €150m (about N133,935,598,125.00 billion) to acquire the services of Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen.

    PSG are not sure of retaining French forward, Kyllian Mbappe who is set to leave this summer and the Parisians are trying to replace him with Osimhen.

    However, Napoli already making move to meet Victor Osimhen’s agent to discuss a new contract, but PSG are trying to lure the attacker from the club this summer.

    The center-forward was already signed from LOSC for over €70m and has gone from strength to strength at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

    President Aurelio De Laurentiis has given mixed messages, assuring Osimhen reached a verbal agreement to extend his contract to June 2027, but at the same time warning if an offer they can’t refuse comes in, then it must be considered.

    According to Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedulla, that bid could well come in from Paris Saint-Germain, and including performance-related bonuses it would hit the magic €150m figure.

    This would blow even Premier League competition out of the water, with Manchester United and Chelsea seemingly not too sure about going beyond €100m.

    Considering the Nigeria international is only 24 years old and was Capocannoniere this season with 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances, plus five in six Champions League matches, that simply would not be enough to make Napoli wobble.

    Regardless, first Napoli will meet with Osimhen’s agent to discuss the situation.

    Should the striker be sold, they have already identified Jonathan David of LOSC as his replacement.

  • Man Utd have transfer tactical plan for Victor Osimhen

    Man Utd have transfer tactical plan for Victor Osimhen

    Manchester United are waiting to pounce for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

    As they rethink their pursuit of Tottenham star Harry Kane, United are switching their sights on Nigeria international Osimhen.

    La Gazzetta dello Sport says United are firming up their interest, though Napoli’s €140m price is deemed too steep.

    Instead, United will wait until later in the transfer window counting on Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis to soften his stance.

    At yesterday’s presentation for new coach Rudi Garcia, De Laurentiis opened the door to Osimhen’s sale.

    “I have said for a while that Osimhen has to stay. Then, if an offer came in that I could not refuse for the good of Napoli, then we would consider it, as is only natural,” said De Laurentiis.

    “We already talked to Osimhen before the Scudetto celebration, so we already have a basic agreement on a two-year extension of his contract. The other players, that is something we need to study with Rudi (Garcia), because I have for many years been convinced that pre-season training is fundamental.”