Victor Osimhen has received support from a rare quarter following his 3-0 loss against Inter Milan at the weekend.
Napoli lost ground on Inter Milan in the chase for another Scudetto following an embarrassing home loss to the league leaders, with rising questions about the title credentials of the Partenopei.
Osimhen has come under criticism from several quarters, but the Super Eagles forward has continued to receive support from various quarters, especially among the fraternity of former footballers.
The latest person to offer support to Osimhen is Mario Balotelli. The former Manchester City forward commented on one of the incidents during the match that went against Osimhen.
Balotelli jumps to the support of Osimhen
While speaking during a live Twitch broadcast on TvPlay, former Monza, Inter and AC Milan striker Balotelli commented on an incident during the Napoli vs Inter Milan league game that could have altered the direction of the game.
Balotelli felt that during an attacking phase of the game for the Partenopei, Osimhen should have been awarded a penalty.
He felt the Super Eagles forward was hard done with the decision by the referee to allow the game to continue.
Balotelli su Napoli-Inter: 'Lautaro su Lobotka, è fallo. Acerbi su Osimhen? Se non mi danno un rigore così, io…': Anche Mario Balotelli commenta il caso che fa più discutere dopo l'ultima giornata di Serie A, ovvero l'arbitraggio di Massa… https://t.co/MClKLgDIEB pic.twitter.com/1J4AZaCqJ4
— sportlive (@sportli26181512) December 5, 2023
According to Balotelli, the touch on Osimhen was light but enough to disrupt his flow and negate the attacking move.
The former Man City forward said, “If they don't give me a penalty like that I go crazy, I freak out.”
Still on the issue, Balotelli agreed it was a soft touch.
“The touch is light but not on the ball. How can you say it is not rigorous? Acerbi's foot goes on Osimhen's ankle, for me, it is a clear penalty.”
He defended Osimhen, claiming the Nigerian striker did not simulate his fall and that the heel stud hurts. He posited that it was a foul and not a light contact.
He concluded that if he was the referee, he would have called a foul.
Balotelli on other incidents in the game
Balotelli disagreed with the referee on other calls he made during the game.
On one of the Inter Milan goals, he believed the goal should have been disallowed, as Lautaro Martinez had committed a foul.
Balotelli said Martinez hugged Lobotka and pulled him down, and the referee should have awarded a free kick and disallowed the Inter Milan goal.
✨ Awards night
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/m3jHVZ4jqu
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) December 5, 2023
He was also disappointed that VAR did not intervene in the incident, and the referee should have reviewed it.
He also praised Calhanoglu for his performance. He confessed that he didn’t expect the former AC Milan player to be a vital member of the Inter Milan side.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
