Former Napoli star Emanuele Calaiò has offered his insights into Antonio Conte's preference for Romelu Lukaku over Victor Osimhen.
The 25-year-old Osimhen joined the Turkish giants on loan after failing to secure a permanent move away from Napoli on deadline day. Osimhen was a focal point in the summer transfer market, attracting interest from several clubs, including Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
His long-standing agreement with Napoli over a summer transfer prompted Napoli to seek a striker of his ilk, leading to the acquisition of Lukaku, a player Conte previously worked with at Inter Milan.
While acknowledging Osimhen's undeniable strength and talent, Calaiò stressed that it is Lukaku's leadership qualities and ability to rally teammates that could explain Conte's preference.
Conte's choice: Lukaku's leadership vs. Osimhen's strength
Speaking to Napoli Magazine, Calaiò highlighted the contrasting qualities of Osimhen and Lukaku, saying, “Osimhen is stronger than Lukaku, but Conte evidently chose the Belgian because he is a locker room man, a leader.
“Have you seen what he did with Monza? It was clear from the TV; he always encouraged his teammates, he guided them.
“Then he won't go to the national team for the second time, it's not for everyone, it's a clear signal, he is a player who has put himself completely at the disposal of his teammates and Napoli.”
During his four years in Italy, Osimhen established himself as one of the premier forwards in the world, guiding the Partenopei to the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season with an impressive tally of 31 goals, becoming the first African player to win the prestigious Capocannoniere award.
Although the former Lille man faced challenges last season due to injuries, he still recorded an impressive return of 17 goals and four assists in 32 appearances.
