- Victor Osimhen shines for Napoli with a stunning hat-trick, propelling him to the club’s all-time scorers chart
- Italian media laud Osimhen as the solution to Napoli’s problems, praising his relentless playmaking abilities and goal-scoring prowess
Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker, has emerged as Napoli’s beacon of hope, poised to rejuvenate the club’s lacklustre season after his stunning hat-trick performance in the Partenopei’s resounding 6-1 victory over Sassuolo on Wednesday.
Osimhen’s extraordinary achievement not only propelled him to the 13th spot in Napoli’s all-time scorers chart but also solidified his status as only the third player in the club’s history to score at least 10 goals in four consecutive Serie A seasons, following in the footsteps of legends Diego Maradona and Attila Sallustro, as reported by Opta.
Italian sports daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport, hailed Osimhen as more than just a remedy to Napoli’s woes. They awarded him a glowing rating of eight and declared, “He is the solution to Napoli’s problems.” Despite occasional errors, Osimhen’s relentless creation of opportunities, including a key assist for Kvara’s goal, showcased his immense value to the team.
Similarly, Il Corriere dello Sport praised the Nigerian international as ‘unstoppable’ and likened him to a ‘hurricane’ that overwhelmed Sassuolo’s defense. The publication highlighted Napoli’s rare feat of scoring six goals in a match, crediting Osimhen as the catalyst behind the team’s magical performance.
Tuttosport and Corriere dello Sport echoed similar sentiments, attributing Napoli’s resurgence to Osimhen’s exceptional contributions. “He is the reason Napoli is finding its form again,” Tuttosport affirmed.
Osimhen’s remarkable hat-trick brings his tally to five goals in three games since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, and his 13th across all competitions this season. With 72 goals in 122 games for Napoli, he now stands joint-fourth with Paulo Dybala in the Serie A top scorers standings, having netted 11 goals in 15 league games.
Although Napoli remains in ninth place, the victory has narrowed the gap to the top four to just eight points, reigniting hopes of a successful campaign under Osimhen’s leadership.