Napoli, Okafor introduces himself: "I'm working hard to get back to the top"

Naples, February 12, 2025 – After Philip Billing it's up to Noah okafor to present himself at his new club, despite his actual debut, albeit for a few minutes in the tense final part of the match againstUdinese, has already happened: the good opportunity was offered by the usual weekly chat on the microphones of Radio Crc, who have collected first impressions and hopes of the winger who arrived from Milan with the formula of the onerous loan to 1,5 million, with right of redemption at 23,5 million.

Okafor's statements

The transfer, among other things, was accompanied by several doubts regarding the player's list of honours, who was marginalised in the last part of his adventure in red and black, but also and above all due to his physical condition after failing to pass the medical tests with the Leipzig. "I'm coming to a big club. I'm working hard to get back into top form and I hope to soon be able to express myself at my best for my own good but above all for the team's. You push and work hard in training and for me at the moment it's something new. It's difficult, but I'm convinced that this is what I need now: to train hard and overcome my limits precisely to get back to top condition soon. After all, I've arrived in a team that runs a lot and that defends and attacks in unison, making these prerogatives its strong point. We have a lot of quality here and the coach is good: we work well and I always think that in football the matches are then the result of what you've done during the week".

Okay he elaborates, bringing up his favorite role and his tactical versatility. "When you push hard in training and work well, then you express it on the pitch. The team welcomed me very well, the players are all motivated to give their best and there is a good atmosphere. I think that by continuing on this path we will be able to reach our goals. As for me, I can play as a winger, both on the right and left, and as a central striker. Furthermore - continues the Swiss - I have played with two strikers or close to just one. If I had to express a preference based on my characteristics, the position I prefer is that of left winger, because there I can best show off my qualities and make the difference".

Yes, but what are the best qualities of Okay? "I can express myself better in one-on-one situations, attacking the depth, cutting and trying to score." All qualities that the Napoli, still top of the list but with just 1 point ahead of theInter, is in dire need of finding victory again, perhaps even against Lazio. "After the draws with Roma e Udinese we have to start again with the right mentality. In football, not everything can always go well, but even from negative things you can learn and then improve. For now, my personal priority is to train hard every day, get in shape as soon as possible and return to my standard level if the coach needs my contribution".

To the light of the injury of David Neres, which does not even seem to be particularly short, the impression is that of the former Milan there is an extreme need immediately. "It will certainly be a heavy absence and a very negative thing for us, as in general it always is when a player gets injured. However, we have the qualities to make up for this absence. We must prepare ourselves well and make ourselves all available to the coach". He closes by talking about the idols of Okay on the field and his musical tastes, a question that is more relevant than ever in the week of Festival of Sanremo. "I have several players that I like and who inspire me. I can think of Cristiano Ronaldo: I have always admired him because his work rate is incredible. But the priority for me is to always feel the best version of myself after every day of work and that's why I work hard. As for music, I really love afrobeat and hip-hop".

Neres's replacement

After the pleasantries, it's time for the Napoli to really ask yourself what to do on that left lane becomes scorching (and deserted) after the start of Khvisha Kvaratskhelia. In reality, there is a substitute and it is called precisely Okay, a left winger by profession. There is a problem, however, and the Swiss himself highlighted it: his physical condition is still insufficient to probably allow him to be used from the start and for the entire match. Ad Antonio Conte so, probably, the task of thinking of some other solution. The good news is that the offensive range available to the Salento coach is vast with backup options. The first leads to James Raspadori, the wild card par excellence of the squad who has been demanding space for some time: what better occasion than this emergency to try to carve out his own role, even if in an area of ​​the pitch not exactly suited to his qualities? For the same reason, there is in the running Cyril Ngonge, another character in search of an author who until a few weeks ago seemed to be about to go elsewhere in the transfer market. Then, due to the difficulties in finding the heir of Fourth, the Belgian remained in blue, albeit starting from a very backward position on a hypothetical starting grid. Finally, there would be the option Leonardo Spinazzola, among other things not unheard of in the season when there were other patches to be put on the tormented left lane. The problem is that even the former Roma he is injured, as can be seen from the forfeit against theUdinese, the sad omen of the emergency that would arrive in the following days and which makes the match at home even more difficult Lazio right in perhaps the most delicate phase of the season.