Napoli Striker Victor Osimhen Closes In on Nigeria’s All Time Goals Record in a Serie A Season

Napoli Striker Victor Osimhen Closes In on Nigeria’s All Time Goals Record in a Serie A Season

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:58 PM
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  • Victor Osimhen has scored nine goals in the current Serie A campaign and will look to break Obafemi Martins’ record in Italy
  • ‘Obagoal’ remains the only Nigerian to have scored 11 goals in the Italian top flight in a single season, having played for Inter Milan
  • Osimhen, who scored a brace in Napoli’s 2-1 win over Hellas Verona will look to break the record as he closes in

Napoli star Victor Osimhen is now three goals away from smashing the highest goals record by a Nigerian in a Serie A season.

Punch Extra reports that former Inter Milan striker Obafemi Martins who scored 11 goals in the 2004/05 season to help the Nerazzurri finish third, is the record holder.

Osimhen took his tally to 9 goals in 19 appearances this season when he netted a brace in Napoli’s 2-1 win over Hellas Verona at the weekend, to equal Martins’ performance in the 2005/06 league season.

Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen has so far scored nine goals in this Serie A season. Photo: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

The mission to reach, and even surpass, the astonishing record looks possible for Osimhen if there are no injuries as the season progresses.

Obafemi Martins found the back of the net 11 times in 31 appearances, but Osimhen has not been favoured due to injuries as well as COVID-19, as the youngster can only feature in a maximum of 28 games this season.

The former Lille of France striker joined the Partenopei for a club-record fee in the summer of 2020 and is gradually settling down in Naples.

So far this season, Osimhen has scored 13 times and made four assists in 24 games in all competitions compared to the 2020/21 season, when he only managed 10 goals and three assists in 30 games across all competitions.

Newcastle United interested in Osimhen

Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen could be playing in the English Premier League next season as the striker is being courted heavily by Newcastle United.

The Super Eagles striker is regarded as one of the best strikers in the Italian Serie A and was on target for Napoli on Sunday, March 13 after hitting a brace against Hellas Verona.

Newcastle United are already preparing a huge offer for the Nigerian striker to tempt him to make the switch to England.

Antonio Cassano applauds Osimhen

Sports Brief earlier reported that former Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has disclosed that he never believed in the potential of Victor Osimhen, but now he is eating his own words.

The former Italian star has admitted that the Nigerian striker has cleared his doubts and can even go on to become one of the top players in world football.

In a chat with Bobo TV as per Tutto Napoli, Cassano stated that he initially did not rate the former Lille striker when he arrived in Italy.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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