Osimhen Looks Set To Return Against AC Milan In The UCL... Says Luciano Spalletti.

Napoli manager, Luciano Spalletti has revealed that striker Victor Osimhen could make a return to action when they face fellow Italian side AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Osimhen is currently sidelined after returning from international duty with a muscle injury last week.

The 24-year-old Nigerian had missed last weekend’s 4-0 home defeat to holders AC Milan, and also the away game against Leece in which Napoli struggled to secure all three points following a 2-1 win, courtesy of goals from right-back Giovanni di Lorenzo and an own goal by Antonino Gallo.

Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti further admitted that the Naples club are missing their talismanic forward and hinted that they have to hold back the forward back from featuring against Leece, as he continues his recovery from injury.

Speaking after the game on Friday at the Stadio Comunale Via del Mare, Spalletti said; “Osimhen wants to play every game, but there are situations that need to be evaluated carefully. He really did run the risk of hurting himself badly and being ruled out for the rest of the season, so the medics were right to make him take some time out.

“Now we need to see if with a little strong physical activity the pressure on the muscles grows and how he reacts, because so far he has only done some basic jogging.

“It does become difficult without him, because he has this way of running into space, this physicality, he can draw everyone to him and therefore create the space for his teammates.” 

However, Spalletti stated in a press conference that Osimhen is in line to face AC Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie at the San Siro.

“Tomorrow there is no chance, we go to the following week with the work schedule.

“For the following matches there are many possibilities from a programming point of view, but you have to wait for the practical development of the work.”

Osimhen has become a symbol of the Partenopei’s charge to the Scudetto this season, scoring 21 goals and providing five assists across 23 league games. He’s been equally decisive in the Champions League, netting four in five games as the team look to make history on the European stage.

Chelsea and Man United are one of many clubs to have been heavily linked with Napoli star Osimhen in the summer transfer window.