"Raspadori is more Functional than Osimhen to Spalletti's Plans"- Former Italian Striker

Published on: 16 October 2022

Former Italian striker, Claudio Bellucci believes countryman Giacomo Raspadori is a more functional option to lead the line for Napoli than Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen.

Belluci, in his latest interview, highlights Raspadori’s movement amd team work as the edge he has over the Nigerian forward.

Osimhen and Raspadori have only played 84 minutes together so far this season and just once did they both start together; in the match against Lecce at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, until the end of the first half.

Between the physical problems suffered by the Nigerian and a compatibility on the pitch still to be refined, the feeling is that having both of them on the pitch makes one of them less ineffective.

“They tell me Raspadori plays like me, I like him, how he moves. He is doing very well, he is a natural with both feet,” Bellucci told Calcio Napoli.

“The return of Osimhen is a strong point, we have seen the anger with which he scored against Ajax. At the moment, I see Raspadori as more functional to what Spalletti wants because he makes the team play.”

However, Belluci believes both players have where they cab function adequately, insisting that a counter-attacking style favours Osimhen more than the Italian.

“Then if you want to defend yourself and start again from the back then Osimhen is perfect. I would always like someone like him who attacks from deep to be on my team,” Belluci added.

The 23-year-old was sidelined since picking up an injury in Partenopei’s 4-1 win against Liverpool on September 9. However, the Super Eagles striker returned from injury with a bang, as he scored a late goal to help Napoli defeat the Dutch champions 4-2 in Naples.

Osimhen came off the bench and charged down Daley Blind before putting the ball into an unguarded net to register his first Champions League goal of the season, with the game delicately poised at 3-2.

So far this season, the former Lille striker has registered three goals in six appearances across all competitions for Napoli this season.

-goalball

Comments