'Overpaid and pampered' - Napoli's dressing room unhappy with Osimhen after loss to Barcelona 

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen struggled as Napoli were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Osimhen was in action for the entire duration of the clash between Barcelona and Napoli as the Spanish giants progressed to the quarterfinals, winning 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

Following the unimpressive performance, the Nigerian striker has been criticized for the display against Barcelona.

Osimhen struggled to get the better of Barcelona's young defender Pau Cubarsi, who won the Player of the Match award.

According to Naples-based newspaper Il Mattino, via Calcio Napoli 1926, the Napoli dressing room is not happy with Osimhen.

The dressing room feels Osimhen is being pampered and overpaid by the club.

The players feel Napoli have offered the Nigeria international a lot this campaign, while he has not replicated the gesture with top performances when needed.

The newspaper wrote: "Osimhen , overpaid and pampered by a club that this season has granted him everything (from treatment in Nigeria to extra holidays for personal reasons) has worn the role of the super star without, however, repaying the generous benefits received off the pitch on the pitch, something that the locker room did not digest well."

"Historically, champions are granted greater freedom, as long as they prove decisive in times of need. In some ways, he is an annoying, but also divisive, leader.

"He also appears capable of disturbing the climate of the dressing room , as when he decided (with the manager and the club) not to even go to the bench with Genoa, after his return from the African Cup of Nations.

"Something that the team has linked to finger. This is also why Kvara seemed dissatisfied, disheartened, without motivation".

Osimhen signed a contract extension at Napoli before linking up with the Nigeria squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, a deal that sees him earn about ten million euros annually and makes him the highest paid player in the history over the club.

He has had 14 goal involvements (11 goals and 3 assists) in 17 league appearances so far this season. 

Adeyemi Adewale

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