NAPOLI captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo has insisted that Victor Osimhen is as good as ever and will be a handful for Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League group stage clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona tomorrow night.
Nigeria international Osimhen was the top scorer in Serie A last season as Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years but has had a recent row with the club.
The Super Eagles striker was trolled by the TikTok account of Napoli after missing a penalty in a draw with Bologna and this escalated into a threat of legal action against the club from his agent.
Things appear to have cooled down a bit after the Napoli hierarchy privately apologised to their star player and Osimhen has scored in his last two games.
Di Lorenzo believes the 24-year-old hitman has put the situation behind him and is raring to go against the most successful club in UEFA Champions League history.
“Nothing has changed for us. His relationships inside the dressing room, his (Osimhen’s) behaviour and his desire to give the best for this team have not changed,” Di Lorenzo said during the pre-match press conference today.
“He is always available for his teammates, as you saw in the game [against Lecce]. To us, he is the same Osimhen. A great player who gives his best and will continue doing the same tomorrow.”
Di Lorenzo acknowledged Real Madrid’s dominance in the competition the Spaniards have won a record 14 times but is confident Napoli will be tough opponents in Naples.
“It is a game we must play, this competition is Real Madrid’s home, they’ve won the trophy many times, but we are ready, we play at home, so the stadium will be full and we’ll do our best to cause trouble for them,” he said.
“We know we face a strong side, but we are ready. It will be thrilling.”
Napoli and Real Madrid are joint-top in Group C having won their opening games against Sporting Braga and Union Berlin respectively.
