For Victor Osimhen, the Diego Maradona legacy is a tantalising possibility at Napoli

The Nigerian striker is heading in the right direction to steer the Neapolitans to their first title in 33 years. He has an opportunity to create a legacy like one of many metropolis’s illustrious skills.

Legends are worshiped in Napoli, this Campanian metropolis within the south of Italy. Diego Maradona arrived within the metropolis virtually 4 many years in the past and has remained right here. After giving them their first and solely Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990, Maradona grew to become a demi-god on this Catholic metropolis the place saints have their satisfaction in avenue corners and candles are lit of their honour.

This type of legacy awaits Victor Osimhen as Napoli is about to finish their 33-year-long look forward to a league title in Italy’s prime flight. With a wholesome lead on prime of the Serie A desk and targets from the Nigerian striker main the best way, Osimhen may get his shrine on this metropolis in the future.

I hung out on Saturday night visiting the Diego Maradona memorial shrine within the Toledo neighbourhood of Naples accompanied by CalcioNapoli24 journalist Vincenzo Credendino. It was a scene of adoration for the Argentine who died in November 2020 however whose spirit continues to dwell on this metropolis by the ocean.

Maradona grew up poor in Buenos Aires and got here to a metropolis the place he was feted. He led them towards the nice golf equipment of Italy, handing them their two titles and cementing an unshakeable legacy right here.

In all places one turns on this metropolis, a Maradona shirt hangs round along with his quantity 10 on the again. I even noticed pizza packaging with the well-known stylized D10S, a play on the Italian phrase for God.

“Diego Armando Maradona for Napoli is a demi-god. He introduced one thing that the Neapolitans by no means noticed earlier than, the Scudetto,” Credendino advised Soccernet.ng.

Maradona’s feat alongside his teammates gave them a bragging proper in a rustic whose soccer is dominated by the groups of the north.

“The truth that he was capable of win saying what Neapolitans needed to listen to. He mentioned that when Napoli defeated Juventus, he was combating not simply towards Juventus, not simply with the footballers of Juventus however towards all people in Italy that didn’t desire a workforce like Napoli to win towards the sturdy groups of the North like Inter, Milan and Juventus, Credendino mentioned.”

Very similar to Maradona, Osimhen scored twice in a 5-1 victory towards Juventus in January. It was a victory that meant way more than the outcome, a psychological benefit over the remainder of the league after trouncing essentially the most profitable facet in Italian soccer.

At a restaurant final evening, as soon as the waiter came upon I used to be Nigerian, his smile was totally different, and his pleasure confirmed. Napoli has taken Victor as its personal, very similar to it adopted the well-known Argentine.

Napoli is dreaming of a 3rd title after 33 years. Immediately, their hopes are on the younger Nigerian striker they purchased at a report price the identical yr Maradona died. Remarkably, Osimhen has an analogous upbringing to Maradona, coming from the Oregun neighbourhood of Olusosun, well-known for its landfill that after tainted the air for miles.

Two proficient younger males got here to Napoli to play in groups ripe for the title. One in all them grew to become a legend. The opposite might turn out to be as nice. With every objective, I hope Osimhen will chart his approach to this enviable firm within the metropolis of Maradona. It isn’t but time to go away for Manchester United or different suitors.