SERIE A
Ten line-up to replace Osimhen’s boss at Napoli
It is certain that if Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen returns to Napoli next season, he will be under a new coach following the exit of Luciano Spalletti under whom he flourished and won the Seria A title.
Following Spalletti’s exit earlier this week, 10 candidates have been shortlisted as replacement.
Among them is former Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique. But some other sources claimed that he might favour handling an English Premier League side.
“He is a great coach, he did really well at Barcelona but I think he prefers the Premier League,” De Laurentiis stated in an interview with the national italian broadcast network, Rai, as reported by Italian outlet, Gazzetta.
“We must remember that we are dealing with leagues that are more appealing than ours’, like the English one.
“There are better offers there. I would tell him that he’d find better food here and there is no gulf over there,” continued De Laurentiis.
It was earlier reported that former Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte could be the best candidate to pick the role, but given that Conte often employs a three-man defense in his coaching style, it appears unlikely that he will be considered for the job.
The same can be said for Gian Piero Gasperini, the Atalanta boss. However, Thiago Motta (Bologna) and Vincenzo Italiano (Fiorentina) remain plausible candidates for the managerial position at the Stadio Maradona.
“I’ve evaluated about ten coaches who can use this system [4-3-3] and I’ll pick the best one to continue the winning cycle. I want to do more but I need support from all Napeolitans,” added the 74-year-old.
“Changes should not be scary as everything must be used to improve. We’ll go ahead being the only team that has been playing in Europe for 14 years and this says it all about decisions on coaches.
“I have an advantage, I can’t play football, but I know how to be an entrepreneur. I must be rational and understand what’s going on. I haven’t made many errors for now and hope to continue.”
Spalletti, in his final game as coach, will lead Napoli against Sampdoria at the Stadio Maradona on Sunday, where Napoli will celebrate their Scudetto victory by lifting the trophy.
SERIE A
Osimhen left out of Napoli squad for season
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/osimhen-left.jpg)
Victor Osimhen has not been included in Napoli’s official 23-man Serie A squad for this season, after the Nigerian striker’s expected move away from the club failed to materialise.
Osimhen’s 26 goals helped Napoli to their Scudetto win two seasons ago, but it has all turned sour since and although the want-away player is still at the club, for now he plays no part in their plans.
The 25-year-old signed a contract extension with Napoli last December, keeping him at the club until 2026 and with a reported release clause of 130 million euros.
A month later, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis said Osimhen would leave at the end of the season, and in recent days his expected destination appeared to be Chelsea or Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.
Negotiations went on until the transfer window closed in both Italy and England on Friday, but with Osimhen’s wage demands apparently not met by Chelsea it appeared he was on his way to Saudi Arabia.
Napoli, however, did not accept the offer from Al-Ahli, who then signed Ivan Toney from Brentford for a reported 40 million pounds, and signed Belgian Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea
-Reuters
SERIE A
Osimhen’s replacement, Lukaku fires up Napoli for late win over 10-man Parma
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/lukaku.jpg)
Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku and Andre Zambo Anguissa scored in stoppage time to snatch a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over promoted Parma in Serie A on Saturday.
Antonio Conte’s side moved up to fourth in the standings following their second victory of the campaign.
Feisty Parma, who beat Milan last week, looked to be on their way to a second surprise win of the season thanks to a 19th-minute penalty from Ange-Yoan Bonny.
The visitors had chances to extend the lead but Napoli looked more threatening after the break when new signing Lukaku came on to the pitch.
The momentum changed significantly when Parma keeper Zion Suzuki was shown a second yellow card for a foul on David Neres, causing defender Enrico Del Prato to take over in goal with no further substitutions available.
Napoli thought they had won a penalty for a foul on Giovanni Simeone, only for it to be overturned by VAR in the 90th minute.
But Lukaku grabbed the equaliser two minutes later with a low shot from 12 yards from a Leonardo Spinazzolla through ball before Zambo Anguissa’s header sealed the win in front of an ecstatic home crowd in the 96th minute.
“It is an honour to play for this club, these fans and also for these lads, who gave me a really warm welcome,” former Chelsea and AS Roma forward Lukaku told DAZN.
“We worked really hard and the effort we put into training paid off. It is something of a habit that I score on my debut, but we won and that’s the most important thing.
“I am very happy, but now we need to work and keep winning.”
-Reuters
SERIE A
Ademola Lookman wins Atalanta’s ‘Player of The Season Award
![](https://sportsvillagesquare.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ademola-lookman.jpg)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles winger and silver medal winner with the country at the last AFCON 2023 tournament in Cote D’Ivoire, Ademola Lookman, has emerged as the Atalanta Player of the Season.
The pint-size forward has won the converted award Back-to-back with the Bergamo-based side after his exploit in the domestic and European matches for the side.
Atalanta qualified for two finals with the Nigerian International playing an active role in the campaign.
He was instrumental to Atalanta winning the UEFA Europa League beating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final with the Nigerian scoring all the goals.
The club announced on its official website on Thursday saying, “It’s him again, Ademola Lookman! The reigning champion defends his title and is crowned straight-a student for the second year in a row after staving off an unsparing competition, to the point of both bringing the contest to an overtime runoff and stepping the pose down up to the Instagram profile after the regular session ended in a tie. Kudos to Mola for his back-to-back Player of the Season!” it noted.
It went further that,” building on his 17 goals and 11 key passes in all competitions (making him the team’s second-best seasonal scorer and wingman) and with the hat-trick scored in the magical Dublin final as his main leg-up, Lookman tips the ItalianOptic branded crown once again,” the web remarked.
Aside from Ademola, the second and third-best positions were also announced as the midfield duo of Jose dos Santo Éderson and Teun Koopmeiners.
The Nigerian had a brilliant AFCON experience with Nigeria where he scored three goals and his exploits so far have put him in strong contention to win the next ‘African Footballer of the Year’ award which will come up before the end of the year at a venue yet to be announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen is the reigning winner of the award alongside Asissat Oshoola who retained the version.
-
TRANSFER MARKET3 days ago
Points of Interest as Napoli’s coach apologises to Victor Osimhen
-
Badminton1 week ago
American beats Nigeria’s Segun Obasanjo
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
Transfer market still bubbling as Chelsea agents lands in Napoli for Osimhen
-
TRANSFER MARKET1 week ago
BREAKING! Osimhen is left stranded! Future remains uncertain
-
TRANSFER MARKET5 days ago
Lukaku pays respect to Osimhen
-
PARALYMPICS6 days ago
How Mikano powered Eniola to Nigeria’s first medal at Paris 2024
-
Nigerian Football1 week ago
As in 1974 , 1995 and 2005 another coach, Labbadia disappears from Nigeria’s national team job
-
AFCON1 week ago
Interim Commander, Eguavoen opens up on his plans for Super Eagles