Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri has stated that Victor Osimhen is not completely ready for duty.
Osimhen returned to training on Friday, following his involvement in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old did not make the matchday roster as Napoli drew 1-1 with Genoa on Saturday.
The striker is concentrating on training to regain his health after playing seven games in one month in Côte d’Ivoire.
Mazzarri admitted that the attacker is not entirely healthy and would have been hazardous to start him against Genoa.
“According to him and the medics, he was down to his last legs. He had a series of muscular issues and it would’ve been madness to play him here for 15 minutes and then risk losing him for months,” Mazzarri said after the game.
“It was wise, as the player himself agreed, to rest better and hope he can be ready for Barcelona. I say hope because I barely ever worked with Osimhen due to injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations, he was never in shape.”
