Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri has stated that Victor Osimhen is not fully prepared for action, as reported by DAILY POST.
Osimhen resumed training on Friday following his involvement in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite this, the 25-year-old was absent from the matchday squad as Napoli secured a 1-1 draw against Genoa
on Saturday.
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The striker is currently prioritizing training to regain full fitness after playing seven games in one month in Cote d’Ivoire. Mazzarri admitted that the influential forward is not completely fit, and playing him against Genoa would have posed a risk.
According to Mazzarri, “According to him and the medics, he was down to his last legs. He had a series of muscular issues, and it would’ve been madness to play him here for 15 minutes and then risk losing him for months.”
Mazzarri emphasized the wisdom in allowing Osimhen to rest and expressed hope that the player would be ready for the upcoming match against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Napoli is set to host Barcelona in the first leg at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Tuesday.