Fans of Napoli have picked Victor Osimhen as a more influential player for the club than former strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Edinson Cavani.
All three forwards made their mark at the Italian club but the Nigerian’s ability to lead the side to the Serie A title last season appears to have registered the most in the minds of the supporters.
Napoli missed Osimhen’s goals when he left for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in the Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11.
However, the 25-year-old has returned with a bang, having scored in back-to-back matches against Barcelona and Cagliari in the UEFA Champions League and Serie A, respectively.
Napoli fans pick Osimhen ahead of Cavani and Higuain
Some Napoli fans were asked to make their choice on which striker they would rate higher between Cavani, Higuain and Osimhen, and the majority chose the latter.
The Nigeria international scored 26 league goals as the Partenopei were crowned champions last season, ending the club’s three-decade title drought.
Similarly, Cavani also enjoyed cult status during his time with Napoli, where he scored 109 goals in 146 matches, while Huguain’s spell with the Italian side saw him find the back of the net 95 times in three seasons.
However, when asked to rate the three strikers during a vox pop, many Napoli fans chose Osimhen ahead of Cavani and Higuain.
Eighteen of the fans voted for Osimhen as their pick, 14 went for Cavani and only six cast their vote in favour of ex-Argentina forward Higuain.
Napoli boss explains Osimhen sub in back-to-back games
Meanwhile, Napoli manager Franceso Calzona has explained the rationale behind substituting Osimhen in each of the last two matches.
The Nigeria international returned to the starting line-up for the first time since December when he started against Barcelona in the Champions League round of 16 first leg last week.
Osimhen was on the score sheet to cancel out Robert Lewandowski’s opener as the game ended 1-1 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
However, the striker was substituted by Calzona immediately after scoring, to the surprise of many Napoli fans. Osimhen scored again during the weekend’s Serie A clash against Cagliari and was subbed off in the 85th minute before the hosts snatched a late equaliser.
Reacting to questions over why he has substituted Osimhen in back-to-back matches, Calzona said the striker is suffering from fatigue after featuring at the AFCON.
“He was only tired. Victor is a fantastic guy. He scored two goals in two matches and will slowly get back in shape,” the Napoli manager said.
“Don’t forget he played at AFCON. Players are devastated when they return. He was tired also against Barcelona, but players always want to stay on the pitch.”
Osimhen on the radar of PSG, Chelsea and Saudi clubs
Osimhen hasn’t yet hit the heights of last season but his numbers are still decent, having scored eight goals in 14 Serie A matches this term.
The former Lille forward has also netted two times in five matches in the Champions League and is reportedly being tracked by several European clubs.
In recent weeks, Osimhen has been linked with Chelsea and even Real Madrid, although his release clause of €120 million is proving to be a stumbling block.
Chelsea are said to view the striker as the ideal candidate for their striking role, although the Blues are also tracking Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface as a cheaper option.
Meanwhile, PSG have also been mentioned as a possible destination for the 25-year-old, with Kylian Mbappe all but set to join Real Madrid in the summer. Osimhen’s hefty release clause has also led to links with some Saudi Arabian clubs.
