Success has been a long-time dream for Napoli in the Italian Serie A but it finally arrived last Thursday night when Victor Osimhen equalised in the 1-1 draw against Udinese to give the Partenopei their first league crown since 1990.
At that time, a certain Diego Maradona was the face of the team, his arrival from Barcelona in 1984 ushering in a moment that changed the club’s history forever.
Before Maradona’s arrival, no club from Italy’s agricultural south had ever won the Serie A. It was the clubs of the industrial north such as Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Genoa, Torino and Bologna that reigned supreme.
Napoli’s title triumphs in 1987 and 1990 added to the Coppa Italia in 1987, UEFA Cup in 1989 and Supercoppa Italiana in 1990 was a big deal and something that cannot be forgotten even after Maradona’s demise in November 2020.
In the first World Cup year since Diego Maradona's passing, Napoli & Argentina paid tribute.
Argentina had not won the World Cup since Maradona top scored for them in 1986…
Napoli have not won the title since Maradona top scored for them in 1990…
Both became champions. ???? pic.twitter.com/ALO8YdcPDp
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 4, 2023
After 1990, Napoli went through a period of decline and financial difficulty that saw them drop down to the third tier, Serie C and declare bankruptcy. Things, however, began to change in 2004 for the Campania capital outfit after Aurelio De Laurentiis bought the club.
Within a few years, Napoli were back on the radar of the Serie A and they were able to attract promising players such as Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koulibaly, Jorginho, Faouzi Ghoulam, Fabian Ruiz among many others, and then sold them for big money.
Not forgetting reputable managers such as Walter Mazzarri, Rafael Benitez, Maurizio Sarri, and Carlo Ancelotti that were at the helm of affairs and under their watch, Champions League football was secured and also challenged for the Serie A title.
Indeed, Napoli came close to winning the title in 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 but fell short towards the end. This season was different as they built an early lead that kept growing bigger due to the inconsistencies of others.
At the heart of Napoli’s top form is Osimhen.
The Nigerian forward is having the best form of his growing career to date with his 23 goals seeing him poised to finish as the Serie A top scorer and also the league’s best player.
He has become the African with the most goals in Serie A history and a single season, overtaking George Weah and Samuel Eto’o respectively.
47 – Victor Osimhen has scored his 47th Serie A goal, his first one from penalty in the competition. He became the African player with the most goals in the top-flight (overtaked George Weah with 46 goals). Superpower.#NapoliFiorentina pic.twitter.com/F9Bw5S3U9D
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 7, 2023
Ever since Osimhen arrived in Napoli, comparisons have been made with Maradona, and now that his impact has been felt with a league title for the first time in 33 years, is the Lagos-born player now a legend like the Argentine great?
Maradona’s impact on Napoli was extraordinary. His presence brought life into a city and region of Italy that was not associated with wealth and prosperity like the industrial north. Being able to halt the dominance of Juventus and the Milan clubs was a big deal. It brought attention to the city. As such, Maradona was a trailblazer and is still idolised till date.
Not also forgetting that Maradona became a world champion with Argentina while playing for Napoli, further taking his fame to an astronomical high so much that Italian fans supported Argentina when both countries played each other during the semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy.
That very game was played at Napoli’s stadium. That was a god that many worshipped at his sight. It is no surprise the number 10 shirt was retired and Napoli’s stadium was renamed after Maradona upon his death.
Osimhen for his part is already loved by Napoli fans. With the constant chants of his name on matchdays, and his image flooding the city of Naples, the 24-year-old is clearly on his way to greatness and this Serie A title is the beginning of such.
A Prophecy Fulfilled! GOD Is The Greatest???????????????? pic.twitter.com/In5eoh1JEj
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) May 5, 2023
However, there is uncertainty about whether Osimhen will remain in Naples in the near future. He has constantly been linked with moves to bigger clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, clubs that are in dire need of a top striker.
Napoli president De Laurentiis has stated that Osimhen will not be sold this summer. Still, it is no denying that such a big move would be good business for him and the club as he will likely cost in excess of £100 million, making him their most expensive sale. The recent transfer links raise questions about whether Osimhen will fit in seamlessly elsewhere, particularly as the form of the aforementioned clubs has been rocky at times this season.
Greatness???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/e9GZuwXD3S
— Victor Osimhen (@victorosimhen9) May 7, 2023
At Napoli, Osimhen has a cast of teammates such as Cameroon midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Matteo Politano, Piotr Zielinski, Hirving Lozano among others that help him excel and get better at his game.
Staying put in Naples might therefore do the Ultimate Strikers Academy graduate some good. If he does stay and achieves more success than Maradona did in Naples, Osimhen would not only be a legend at the club but a name that would be remembered for years even after he decides to call time on his career.
Osimhen’s name is already written in the annals of Napoli’s history but it does not end there. He still has so much to offer at just 24 years of age and needs to continue and maintain what he has started.
