Napoli, Osimhen paradox: finds the goal again but loses his smile

Naples, 1 October 2023 - Two clues prove it: of course 8. This is the overall calculation of the networks created by Napoli against Udinese e Lecce: A double poker which definitively sweeps away the crisis on the pitch, while some critical issues remain outside the pitch.

The common denominator

The reference is just as usual Victor Osimhen, who started scoring again in bursts. So far nothing new: starting from 2020 and apart from some rather long pauses due mostly to physical problems, admiring the blue number 9 going to the net is not news at all. The news instead is seeing the masked attacker, notoriously a striker who, as such, lives for goals, score almost without celebrating. All this despite the 'pampering' of the Neapolitan club. The first: a statement aimed at denying any desire to mock one's most representative player via social media. Much less, obviously, the intention of falling into racial ridicule. The second, among other things fresh of the day: the farewell of Alessio Fortino, the company's previous social media executive. The highest floors of Napoli they relegate the turnover to a physiological and already foreseen fact. Those who do not believe in coincidences will obviously be free to develop another belief. The fact is that it is the indicator of an earthquake still dealing with something more than simple aftershocks which, curiously, concern the only common denominator of the two recent goalscorers, the ones in which the Azzurri won without any multiple scoring. The first good news for the Napoli it's no small feat: the new team that is increasingly born in the image and likeness of Rudi Garcia does not have any dangerous dependence on osimhen. The second is that the latter, however, remains a key point of the Azzurri's advanced department, the one that is slowly finding all its protagonists. In short, a hypothetical alien who landed on earth today would have difficulty distinguishing this Napoli from what began the climb towards the scudetto a year ago. Yet, something has changed. Simply put, one could only bring into play the performance of the other rivals for the title, who this year seem more constant and determined: even if, it must be said, the general collapse behind the Azzurri in the last tournament would have occurred around the break to leave room for 202 FIBA WC2. In short, on paper the Napoli there is still time to accelerate his pace, say goodbye to everyone and leave. In this regard, the first answers will probably arrive only when the calendar proposes the first direct clashes: so far the Azzurri have only experienced one, the internal one against the Lazio and the memories aren't the best. Precisely the match against the Biancocelesti had marked the first rift between the square and a Garcia who today is instead recovering points: both in the standings and in his relationship with a large part of the fans.

Osimhen's defense

The differences between the Napoli current and that of a year ago and it was brought up osimhen, which is as important today as it was then. Indeed: in reality inAutumn 2022 for the Nigerian a long physical ordeal began due to a serious muscle injury. Not exactly new in his long epic in blue. Currently number 9, already at altitude 5 goal in the championship, he is experiencing a phase of extreme brilliance in every aspect relating to the green playing field. What is missing is that harmony that perhaps was already broken in the summer under the fire of two events: the farewell to the blue bench of Luciano Spalletti, the first coach to have firmly believed in the extraordinary qualities of last championship's top scorer and the long controversy linked to a renewal that previously seemed close and which today instead seems like a chimera. The icing on a rancid cake came with the events of recent days: from the missed penalty of Bologna to the following fury after the replacement of discord, until arriving at the chaos generated by the now infamous /// TikTok. Just on Sunday osimhen he took to the field personally, trying to dampen the long-distance controversies between his two worlds: the Napoli e la Nigeria, move away from the annoying shadow of racism. One of the strongest attackers around plays defense for once and, through a heartfelt statement, extinguishes one of the many outbreaks that have started in recent days: probably the most unfortunate. And the rest? For the moment all is silent on the renewal front, with some even hypothesizing a sensational farewell as early as January. The destination? Exactly that Real Madrid which, balanced between fantasy and reality, will come to the market in a few days Maradona to admire your object of desire and, if necessary, take notes. It is unlikely, if not impossible, that a president who is always attentive to his own creature like Aurelio De Laurentiis decides to deprive the Napoli champion ofItaly of its most representative player in fact in the middle of the season. The other equally true axiom is that the patron would hardly be willing to say hello to zero in thesummer 2025 the most expensive player in the history of the Neapolitan club. Between these two scenarios there is a renewal that is unlikely to arrive at the moment. The timing says it, the still rather wide gap between supply and demand says it and, above all, the face says it osimhen, which marks and will mark again but perhaps without that smile of the golden days. In short, the marriage will continue (at least) until next June, but for the moment the relationship he is not experiencing his happiest phase. Naturally, in a frenetic world like that of football, everything could change in a very short time: perhaps already on Tuesday thanks to a goal in that Real Madrid which in the coming months could become the third wheel in a less solid bond than the past. Actually no: scoring is no longer enough to chase away the winds of crisis. In the long and delicate chess game between Napoli e osimhen even the details are starting to take on their weight. One for all? The (non) celebrations of the bomber who lost his smile.

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