Napoli manager, Walter Mazzarri has explained why striker, Victor Osimhen could not play against Genoa in the Serie A clash on Saturday.
Osimhen returned to training with the club on Friday after leaving Nigeria within the week, following his participation at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
Mazzarri said the 25-year-old is not hundred percent ready for action, and that’s why he was not included in the matchday squad.
CorrectNG reports that Napoli battled to a 1-1 draw against Genoa. But Mazzarri who spoke after the game, admitted that it would have been risky to play Osimhen against Genoa.
The striker is focused on training to rediscover his fitness after playing seven games in one month in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mazzari said; “According to him and the medics, he was down to his last legs. He had a series of muscular issues and it would’ve been madness to play him here for 15 minutes and then risk losing him for months.
“It was wise, as the player himself agreed, to rest better and hope he can be ready for Barcelona. I say hope because I barely ever worked with Osimhen due to injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations, he was never in shape.”
Napoli will host Barcelona on Tuesday, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 contest at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
