The Nigerian striker received the usual enthusiastic welcome when he entered the pitch to warm up. The coach: “Clumsy episodes on social media didn’t help us, but we are united”
– Naples
It was a minute after eight in the evening when the Napoli team took to the pitch to warm up and Victor Osimhen was the last to enter the pitch. As usual he pauses for a moment on the sidelines and gathers in prayer, then enters the field. At Maradona the music is “blasted” and it is impossible to grasp the exact mood of the fans, but the applause prevails, for everyone. Then the warm-up begins and Victor is concentrated like all his teammates. An hour earlier, when the lineups became official, it was certain that the story of the videos on TikTok should not have any repercussions on the pitch, at least. Then we move on to the ball and on the first shot Victor hits a full neck hit into the corner and the fans breathe a sigh of relief. When the team returns to the locker room the entire Posillipo stand is standing to applaud their center forward and Victor looks up, smiles and returns the applause. The feeling with the city has not been affected. Then when DJ Decibel Bellini announces the teams on the field the scream of the people is convinced in supporting their favorites with a peak of applause for Osimhen. The boos? Those are reserved for Rudi Garcia for the moment.
Garcia’s comment
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The Napoli coach, in the pre-match interview, had his say on the case that shook the Neapolitan environment: “We talked to each other, after Bologna we were all frustrated and angry because we hadn’t won, him first and foremost. Then in these two days there have been clumsy episodes on social media which have not helped everyone’s serenity. I spoke to him, he is concentrating on the field where he likes to be. He will give his best. We are all united, the fact of playing in front of our fans is really important.”
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