Garcia praises Osimhen for 'world-class' penalty gesture

Napoli's Victor Osimhen converts a penalty to score the 1-0 opening goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between SSC Napoli vs US Sassuolo in Naples, Italy, 27 August 2023. EPA/CESARE ABBATE

by Staff Reporter

Monday Aug 28, 2023. 13:21

Napoli head coach Rudi Garcia insists he has no issues with Victor Osimhen handing over the ball to Giacomo Raspadori for their second penalty against Sassuolo on Sunday.

Osimhen had earlier opened the scoring from the spot at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to register his third Serie A goal of the season after bagging a brace in the 3-1 win at Frosinone the previous weekend.

The Nigeria international an opportunity to grab his second goal against the Neroverdi when Garcia’s side was awarded another penalty on the hour mark, but he decided to let Raspadori take the spot-kick instead.

The gesture didn’t have the desired effect as the young Italy international missed from 12 yards out, although Giovanni Di Lorenzo spared his team-mate’s blushes by sealing the 2-0 win four minutes later.

Garcia hailed Osimhen for his unselfish act and admitted that Raspadori hasn’t had the rub of the green in recent times.

“Victor scored and made a world-class gesture by giving the penalty to Raspadori,” the Frenchman said in the post-match press conference.

“Raspadori can play many roles. He defends, runs and helps the team. Apart from a bit of bad luck and the goalposts, I’m happy with his game. Missing a penalty happens to the greatest players in football.”