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By: Peter Akinbo.
Napoli’s coach, Rudi Garcia, has asked Osimhen to contribute more defensively following their opening 3-1 win over Frosinone last Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria international scored two goals to help the Italian champions secure a comeback win after the Serie A newcomers stormed to an early lead.
Garcia, while pleased with Osimhen’s stellar attacking display, expressed dissatisfaction with the striker’s defensive contributions.
“Offensively, he was excellent, he scored two goals and there is nothing I can tell him,” Garcia told DAZN.
“Defensively, I didn’t like him at all and I told him during the break. He used to press more and defend better in the past. We changed this thing in the second half and we played with more quality.
“I knew he was not fit to play 90 minutes, but we waited for his second goal, he is a leader and this will never change, it’s his strong point.”
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said that Bayern Munich should have signed Osimhen instead of Harry Kane.
According to reports in Italy, Osimhen is expected to remain in Napoli and pen a new deal in the coming weeks.
The Nigeria international has been linked with a number of top European clubs, including Bayern Munich, PSG and Manchester United throughout the summer transfer window.
But Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis’s asking price of €200m scared off all those interested in the Lagos native, including the Bavarians, who later signed former Tottenham captain Harry Kane.
But for Rohr, the German champions should have paid for Osimhen and secured his services instead of the Englishman.
“Bayern Munich would have benefited from buying the youngster Osimhen, who was the youngest player with me in my first game for the Super Eagles against Tanzania in 2016,” Rohr said.
“It’s a shame they (Bayern) spent so much money on Kane who is already 30. Of course, the team is not bad and and it’s not going to be a difficult season for Bayern but I’m sorry they definitely didn’t sign Osimhen.”
During his Bundesliga debut against Werder Bremen, Kane scored a goal and provided an assist as they won 4-0.
Osimhen also got off to a flying start in the new Serie A campaign, scoring a brace against newly promoted Frosinone in Napoli’s 3-1 away win.
The Nigeria international has now scored 60 goals in 102 appearances for the Partenopei, while providing 14 assists.