Former Napoli and Sassuolo defender Paolo Cannavaro has heaped praise on Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen following his return from injury amid the home league defeat to league leaders Inter Milan.
In the 0-3 home loss to Inter Milan, Osimhen failed to score but did enough to convince the former Napoli defender that he is worth every penny spent to bring him to Naples.
The younger brother of Italian World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro had plenty of good things to say about Osimhen despite the heavy loss to Simeone Inzaghi’s side.
The Partenopei are now way behind the league leaders Inter Milan. They are 11 points behind the Nerazzurri. It leaves their chances of retaining the Scudetto in jeopardy.
Paolo Cannavaro picks Osimhen over Martinez
Speaking on Radio Serie A, Cannavaro compared Osimhen to Lauraro Martinez and concluded that the Nigerian was a better striker than Inter Milan's Argentina forward.
Neither player was on the score sheet when their sides clashed at the weekend, and despite having more goals in the Serie A than Osimhen, Cannavaro insists that the Napoli forward is the better of the two strikers.
Injuries have been the bane of Osimhen since he arrived at Napoli, but he managed to finish as Cappocannoniere with 26 goals last season ahead of Martinez, who scored 21 times.
L'EX – Paolo Cannavaro: "Osimhen meglio di Lautaro, nessuno si aspettava il ritorno di Mazzarri, con lui il Napoli può risalire" https://t.co/tzssimXXnV
— Antonio Petrazzuolo (@apetrazzuolo) December 4, 2023
However, Cannavaro also lauded the Argentine forward, claiming he is difficult to mark.
Cannavaro insisted that if you give Martinez half a chance, he would turn it into a goal.
“Martinez put in a champion's display against Napoli at the weekend,” Cannavaro said.
He also claimed that Osimhen gives Napoli a little more extra than Martinez.
It is worth noting that when Napoli signed Osimhen, Fabio Cannavaro insisted that the investment was worth it and tipped the forward to shine.
Fabio will be pleased that the former Lille striker has proved him right.
Mazzarri’s return to Napoli – a surprise
Despite the form of Napoli this term, Cannavaro insists they are in good shape. According to the former Napoli defender, the team is doing well.
He concluded that “from a technical and tactical point of view the team is doing well.”
He also spoke on the return of Walter Mazzarri as coach of the team. Cannavaro said it was a surprise as the club president, De Laurentiis, has never recalled a coach.
“Mazzarri left a lot, the city loves him, it was a dive in the past.”
⏹️ Full time: #NapoliInter 0-3
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— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) December 3, 2023
Cannavaro also praised the team, claiming that football has changed and that Napoli has physical difficulty because, at some points in games, the team suffers a decline.
The former defender also doused rumours of him taking over as coach if Mazzarri fails.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago