Osimhen: Del Piero Speaks on Nigerian Striker’s Quality After Napoli’s Loss to Barcelona in UCL

Osimhen: Del Piero Speaks on Nigerian Striker’s Quality After Napoli’s Loss to Barcelona in UCL

Raphael Abiola
March 13, 2024 at 4:36 PM
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  • Alessandro Del Piero has commented on Victor Osimhen's performance in Napoli's loss to Barcelona
  • The legendary Juventus striker also aired his views concerning the Nigerian international's quality
  • Osimhen was kept quiet by a 17-year-old Spanish defender, Pau Cubarsi, all throughout the match

Juventus legend, Alessandro Del Piero, shared his thoughts on Victor Osimhen's quality after a poor performance in Napoli's 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

The Super Eagles striker scored Napoli's only goal in the first leg of the fixture in Italy but couldn't find the back of the net in the second leg in Spain on Tuesday (March 12).

The Nigerian international was kept quiet all through the game by 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi, with many fans doubting his quality after the match.

Despite the doubts, many experts praised Cubarsi's defensive prowess and composure against such a seasoned striker.

Victor Osimhen was disappointed during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Napoli. Photo: David S.Bustamante.
Victor Osimhen was disappointed during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona and Napoli. Photo: David S.Bustamante.
Source: Getty Images

Despite backlash from fans on social media, legendary Italian striker Del Piero lauded Osimhen but pointed out what he lacked in the game, according to a report by Napoli Magazine as per Soccernet.

"The commitment was maximum, but aside from that, it was a bad match. He ended up offside so many times, which was a bit excessive, even if his job was to stay on the line and attack deep," he said.

The former Italian international also acknowledged that Osimhen's quality couldn't be questioned despite having a bad season with the Parthenopeans.

"You may feel down, but his qualities are unquestionable. In general, he is in a very negative season for Napoli, and therefore, he hasn't faced everything that has happened in this season with a smile, but his attitude has always been positive," the 2006 FIFA World Cup winner added.

Osimhen criticised for poor performance against Barca

Sports Brief earlier reported that former AC Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi, was straightforward in his assessment of Osimhen's performance in Napoli's loss to Barcelona on Tuesday, March 12.

Sacchi, in his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, expressed disappointment with The Super Eagles star's minimal involvement and movement throughout the game.

Authors
Raphael Abiola photo
Raphael Abiola
Raphael Abiola is a Nigerian Sports Journalist with over five years of experience. He obtained a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2015.