Former Serie A top scorer Giuseppe Savoldi has extolled Victor Osimhen’s attributes as a striker, describing him as a sensational footballer. Osimhen has established himself as one of the deadliest forwards in Europe since joining Napoli from Ligue 1 side Lille.
In his three-and-a-half years with the Partenopei, the Super Eagles forward has grown into a cult hero after playing a key role in the club’s Serie A title triumph last season. Osimhen scored 26 goals in the league en route to Napoli being crowned champions, and became the first African to scoop the top scorer’s gong in Italy.
While the 25-year-old has missed some games this season due to a combination of niggling injuries, and also being away with his country at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) in Ivory Coast, he is set to end the season strongly after scoring four goals in his last five matches.
Overall, Osimhen’s 15 Serie A goals this season are only bettered by that of Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic (16) and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez (23). His all-round play has, however, caught the attention of Savoldi, who has described the striker as a sensational player.
Giuseppe Savoldi compares strong Osimhen to Italy strikers
Savoldi was one of the best strikers in Italy during the 1960s and 1970s, having lined up for Atalanta, Bologna and Napoli. The 77-year-old former Italy international won the Coppa Italia twice, and was the Serie A’s top scorer in the 1972/73 season.
For a man who was adept at scoring goals during his playing days, Savoldi believes Osimhen is the type of striker who can make a difference in any team, and extolled the Nigerian’s attributes as a centre-forward.
“Victor Osimhen scored a goal at Savoldi, in Udine? Beyond his characteristics and comparisons, he is a sensational player, a driving force: if he is well and is on the day, he makes the difference. The last time he played alone. Stork-like legs that allow him to get everywhere… With his head, he's really exceptional, but I felt where the ball would go and I was aiming to get ahead of the defender,” Savoldi said, as quoted by Area Napoli.
The Serie A legend further compared Osimhen to Italy’s current crop of forwards, and admitted that the Azzurri no longer boast the strongest centre-forwards.
“Who do I like among the Italian forwards today? There are centre forwards, we have quality number 9s, but it always depends on how you want to play and the idea conveyed by the coach to the whole team,” Savoldi stated.
“In Italy there isn't a strongest centre forward of all: I see some very good ones, some more suitable than others for certain coaches. When I played, it's not like they could throw me long balls like in Osimhen: balls came to me from the side and, there in the middle, I was there. I was. The team should be organized like this, based on the characteristics of the striker you have in your squad.”
How Italy’s strikers compare to Victor Osimhen
Italy’s lack of striking options has been a problem in recent years, with former Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini bemoaning the situation during his time in charge. Addressing journalists in June 2023, Mancini said while Italy has nurtured great defenders and midfielders, he could not understand why the country was lacking exceptional forwards.
“We already began to freshen things up and will continue to do so. There are good kids. But talent comes in waves. Right now we have good midfielders and defenders, but we are lacking great forwards, I don't know why,” he said, as quoted by Reuters.
Mancini may have since left the role, having joined Saudi Arabia as head coach, but his successor Luciano Spalletti is currently facing the same challenge. Spalletti’s striking options during the March international friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador had Giacomo Raspadori Mateo Retegui and Lorenzo Lucca on the roster.
While Osimhen boasts an impressive return of 17 goals this season, none of the aforementioned forwards has reached double digit figures for goals this term. Raspadori has just six goals in all competitions, Retegui has nine and Lucca has eight. Ciro Immobile, who was ruled out of the friendlies in March, has 11 goals this season but is currently 34 and has his best years behind him.
With the 2024 European Championships approaching, Italy and Spalletti could do with a clinical forward like Osimhen when they face Croatia, Spain and Albania in Group B. That is certainly Savoldi’s wish, but the Napoli star belongs to Nigeria, and the Azzurri would have to find a way to hurt their opponents despite the dearth of quality striking options.
