By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 21, 2024

Former Napoli coach, Walter Mazzarri, has admitted that the impact of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen in the Napoli team could have bought him more time at the club before he was fired on Monday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Mazzarri became the second managerial casualty of the reigning Italian champions, just three months after taking over from Rudi Garcia.

Mazzarri, 62, was appointed as the Gli Azzurri boss in November after a poor start to the season under Garcia. At the time of his arrival, Osimhen was battling with a hamstring injury.

Osimhen’s injury, coupled with his absence during the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast however prevented him from being available to the manager, playing just eight games under Mazzarri.

In that time, Napoli struggled without their talisman, as they recorded just three wins from nine games, and since his return, he hasn’t played due to fitness.

In a report published by La Repubblica, the former Cagliari coach wished he had Osimhen to face Barcelona in Napoli’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie to buy him a bit of time.

“I was hoping to manage against Barcelona with Victor Osimhen on the pitch,” Mazzarri said to La Repubblica in quotes revealed by CN24.

Osimhen led Napoli’s first Scudetto charge in 33 years last season, scoring 25 goals and also won the Serie golden boot .

Slovakia’s Francesco Calzona has now been appointed as the head coach of the three-time Serie A champions, and will be in charge till the end of the season.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 21, 2024

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