Sky Sport Italia claims Victor Osimhen will start on the Napoli bench against Real Madrid tonight, making room for Giovanni Simeone in the starting XI.
Osimhen has recently returned from a muscle injury and was introduced as a substitute in the second half of Napoli’s 2-1 win over Atalanta on Saturday.
The Nigerian forward is expected to start on the bench again tonight as, according to Sky Sport Italia, Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has chosen Simeone as the Partenopei’s centre forward at the Bernabeu for a Champions League group stage game against Real Madrid.
According to Sky Sport’s Napoli correspondent Massimo Ugolini, Mazzarri has already informed Osimhen about his decision. The 24-year-old has reportedly understood his coach’s decision and is ready to contribute in the second half.
It will be a sort of derby for Simeone, whose father, Diego, coaches Real Madrid’s city rivals, Atletico. It is also reported that El Cholo visited his son at the Napoli Hotel in Madrid on the eve of the game on Tuesday.