Victor Osimhen has been defended by the Italian legend, despite having a poor game against FC Barcelona in the Champions League.
Despite Victor Osimhen’s less-than-stellar performance in Napoli’s 3-1 defeat to Barcelona, leading to their Champions League exit, Juventus icon Alessandro Del Piero offered a positive take on the Nigerian forward’s effort against the Spanish team.
Osimhen didn’t manage to leave his mark in the crucial Champions League match, inviting critique from Italian sports journalists. However, Del Piero, a respected figure in Italian football, highlighted Osimhen’s commendable attitude during the game.
“He put in maximum commitment even if being flagged offside so many times is a little bit excessive,” Del Piero told Sky Sport Italia, as quoted by TMW.
“Of course, when you play badly in an important match, you are a little down, but the player’s qualities can’t be questioned. Napoli have had a negative season, so you don’t always face what happens with a smile. However, Osimhen’s attitude was always positive.”
With a tally of 13 goals from 24 appearances in all competitions this season, including a crucial goal in the first leg of the Round of 16 against Barcelona, Osimhen has been a key player for Napoli. Despite recently extending his contract with Napoli until 2026, rumors swirl about a potential summer departure, spurred by a €130 million buyout clause.
Del Piero, whose career includes Champions League and World Cup victories and who holds records for the most goals and appearances for Juventus, retired from the club in 2012 after securing the Serie A title, marking Juventus’s resurgence.
