NAPOLI manager Rudi Garcia has described Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen as a similar leader to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Garcia was appointed as Napoli manager in June as replacement for Luciano Spalletti and the Frenchman coached five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo at Saudi Arabia Pro League club Al Nassr.
Osimhen was Napoli’s leading man last season, scoring 26 Serie A goals and emerging as the top scorer as they won their first Scudetto in 33 years.
Napoli will begin the defence of their Serie A title on Saturday in an away fixture at promoted Frosinone and Garcia spoke with DAZN ahead of the start of the 2023/2024 campaign.
“Osimhen is a leader, he always wants to win and drag the team,” Garcia said.
“He’s a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo. When he wins, he is super happy. He calls his teammates to take pictures and I like him.
“He is one of the best in the world, he could only attack, but he also helps the team defensively, he presses opponents and it’s so good for the team. This is part of the group’s qualities.”
Garcia was sacked at Al Nassr last season after Ronaldo’s arrival but he insisted he had a good relationship with the 38-year-old superstar.
“I was on good terms with Cristiano, I understood why he had such a career,” the former Lyon and AS Roma manager said.
“He was the first to arrive for training sessions and the last to leave. He is an incredible leader. He feels the competition also during training sessions. When he won a penalty shootout he celebrated with his ‘Siuu’ like in the Champions League.”
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