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Victor Osimhen breaks silence after Napoli training fracas

Victor Osimhen
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Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti ejected the Nigeria international from a training session on Sunday.

Victor Osimhen has praised Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti as ‘the ideal coach’ for him at this stage of his career.

In a training session on Sunday, Spalletti refereed a team scrimmage and sent Osimhen off after the 23-year-old responded angrily to a challenge from Norwegian defender Leo Ostigard out on the pitch.

But while pouring cold water on rumors linking him with a move away to the Premier League, Osimhen showed he holds no hard feelings towards his coach.

“A transfer? I talked to ADL [Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis], calm down. Spalletti’s top,” he told Corriere dello Sport.

“I am at Napoli, and I have great respect for my club. They are only rumours of the transfer market. I am fine here and I have never had such close relationships with everyone as at this moment. I have spoken with the president. He is the one who decides, and he reassured me by explaining the club’s plans.”

What is Osimhen’s record under Spalletti?

The Nigerian striker has enjoyed his best form in Italy since Spalletti replaced Gennaro Gattuso in the Napoli dugout in July 2021, supplying 18 goals and six assists in 32 games under the Italian so far.

On Spalletti, Osimhen added: “He is a top coach. Every day he tries to motivate me and make me make the most of the potential I have. I think he is the ideal coach for me at this stage.”

Napoli return to action on Sunday for a friendly against LaLiga side Mallorca in Italy.

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