Antonio Conte’s remarks following Napoli’s recent 1-0 defeat to Lazio have reignited speculation about Victor Osimhen’s potential return to the club.
Despite being in second place in Serie A, Napoli’s attacking struggles have left the manager hinting at a need for greater firepower in the final third.
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Napoli’s inability to convert dominance into goals was evident during their loss to Lazio, where Marco Baroni’s side capitalized on the Partenopei’s lack of cutting edge.
Conte acknowledged the performance gap in his post-match interview, admitting his team needed to find solutions in attack.
“Today’s match also showed that we are on the right path; our idea is to attack the opponent to stop them from playing the game and create situations to hurt us,” Conte said, as quoted by TMW.
We need to improve in this respect, we get there, but the final step is missing. We are working on it.
While Conte praised his players for their effort, he emphasized the need for greater quality in critical moments.
I am not disappointed with the performance; the lads gave their all, playing a good game against an excellent team,” he added.
This is the team I want to see, but we need to be more qualitative in the final meters.
Napoli’s current attacking figures highlight the issue.
Despite sitting near the top of the table, their 21 goals scored this season place them eighth among Serie A teams, a disappointing statistic compared to their rivals.
Romelu Lukaku, signed to replace Osimhen, has managed just five goals in 13 matches—far from the prolific form expected to lead a title charge.
The absence of Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray after a high-profile fallout with Napoli’s management, has been felt keenly.
The Nigerian striker’s clinical finishing had previously been a reliable source of goals, and his departure has left a void that Lukaku has struggled to fill.
Napoli fans, growing frustrated with the Belgian forward’s inconsistent performances, have been vocal about their desire to see Osimhen return.
While the Nigerian’s future remains uncertain amidst interest from other clubs, Conte’s recent call for more attacking quality could signal a potential reconciliation between Napoli and their former talisman.
As the Serie A campaign progresses, the pressure to resolve Napoli’s scoring issues will only intensify.
Whether that solution involves a dramatic reunion with Osimhen or alternative options in the transfer market remains to be seen, but Conte’s comments have certainly fueled speculation about what lies ahead for the club.
