Is Victor Osimhen getting too proud? Is his success getting to his head? It might seem so, as the Nigerian hitman has courted trouble with his Serie A club.
There seems to be something wrong with Osimhen this season, as he has yet to hit his usual lofty heights.
The Serie A top scorer last season has struggled in front of goal so far this term, and perhaps his situation is causing him to be edgy.
On Sunday evening, the usually prolific scorer hit blanks again in a goalless draw as Napoli fell further behind in their quest to retain the title they won last season.
The actions of the former OSC Lille striker in the draw could have landed him in hot soup.
Why Osimhen is in trouble with Napoli
Once again, Osimhen, prolific for Napoli, had a game he would want to forget quickly.
The Nigerian striker performed poorly when Napoli played a dull, barren draw with Bologna in a Serie A game.
It is not his performance that has drawn the ire of the Napoli hierarchy but his reactions to the manager's decisions.
With Napoli searching for a goal and Osimhen not at his best, Rudi Garcia decided to replace the Nigerian.
The former Charleroi striker did not take the decision well. He looked angry and motioned for the manager to have two strikers on the pitch instead of two.
It is akin to teaching the manager his job, and there could be action on the 24-year-old, who is struggling for goals this term.
Osimhen misses a penalty…to face the penalty?
Following the outburst by Osimhen, which was caught on camera in their 0-0 draw with Bologna, Osimhen may face the penalty.
The Nigerian striker missed a penalty in the game but reacted badly to being substituted towards the end of the game.
Rudi Garcia claims he spoke to the striker but refused to divulge the details of their discussion.
According to the former Al Nasr manager, their discussion will remain private.
Garica also posited that the club captain, Giovanni di Lorenzo, was mandated to speak to Osimhen about his behaviour.
The club is eager to state that no player is bigger than the club or can question the manager's decisions.
Despite the status of Osimhen at the club, Napoli is about to fine the striker as an example to other players.
Not a first-time offender
It is not the first time Osimhen has been at the wrong end of authority.
It seems the Nigerian striker has a penchant for losing it when things don't go his way.
In 2021, he was fined €5,000 and a two-match ban for a deliberate attack on another player.
According to the referee who gave him his marching orders, Osimhen voluntarily struck an opposition player with a slap to the face while the ball was at a distance.
In the same season, the Super Eagles striker was also fined €2,000 for simulation in a game he had played well and scored two goals.
Perhaps it is time for Osimhen to check his temperament. The prolific striker should not let his success go to his head as he strives for greater heights.
Popular cases of insubordination
It is not the first time a player is making his feelings known to the manager about his tactics.
Despite players carpeting the decisions by their managers, it has rarely gone down well for them as the club has been quick to clamp down on the attitude.
A popular case is Kepa Arrizabalaga. The Spanish goalkeeper refused to come off after being substituted by the manager Maurizio Sarri.
The following game saw Kepa return to the Chelsea bench and fined a week's wages (around £190,000).
Another player who received such treatment is Cristiano Ronaldo, who was fined for storming down the tunnel after his substitution.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 month ago
