Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro is worried his striker Victor Osimhen hasn’t been at his best for his Serie A side Napoli this term because of issues happening on and off the pitch.
Osimhen emerged as one of the hottest players in the world last season with a consistent form that saw him score a whopping 26 goals to help Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years.
He started the new season in a similar fashion, scoring six goals in his first eight matches, but the striker has seen his form plummet in recent weeks due to injury, controversy around the signing of a new contract, and Tiktok crisis at his club.
Peseiro is convinced that all these factors have contributed to Osimhen’s sadness in recent weeks.
“He is not happy, because obviously he had an injury, which is not good news for us, for Napoli, and for the Italian championship,” Peseiro told TV Play via Tutto Napoli.
“They have not been simple weeks—the rumours about the signed contract, the transfer market issues, and the issue of the TikTok video—especially for an important player like him.
“Now, however, I know that he has a great desire to return to the pitch as soon as possible.”
The coach also hailed his player for finishing eighth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, urging him to sustain his rating with consistently great performances.
“Ballon d’Or? To have come eighth in the world and first in Africa in this voting is extraordinary,” Peseiro said.
“He is 24 years old; he has a long way to go, and on that road, he must aim to be the best.”
