Former Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has urged Nigeria internationals Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen to consider leaving their respective clubs in Italy for greener pastures.
He believes a change could be beneficial for their careers moving forward.
Onazi, who made his mark in the Serie A with Lazio, voiced his strong opinion about the future of the two players after recent developments at their clubs.
Onazi’s comments come in the wake of Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s public criticism of Lookman for missing a crucial penalty in a UEFA Champions League match against Club Brugge.
Gasperini’s comments were widely deemed disrespectful, with Lookman himself reacting negatively to the remarks.
“It is incredibly disappointing to hear such comments from an experienced coach about one of his best players.
“Disrespecting a young player who has given so much to the team is unacceptable,” Onazi told SportsBoom.
He further expressed his displeasure, emphasizing that Lookman, the current African Player of the Year, had proven his worth to Atalanta, even playing through injury to help his team.
“Despite an injury, he came back and helped his team get back into the game. After all, anyone, even the best, can miss a penalty,” Onazi stated.
Onazi noted that Atalanta took a gamble on Lookman when his career was in a difficult phase, and the Nigerian forward had delivered in return.
“If he hadn’t played well, they probably would have let him go. In my opinion, it might be time for him to move on, find a new club, and enjoy his football elsewhere,” Onazi advised.
In addition to Lookman’s situation, Onazi revealed that he had given similar advice to Osimhen after his pivotal role in Napoli’s historic Scudetto victory.
The former Lazio midfielder said he had encouraged Osimhen to leave Napoli at the peak of his success.
“I offered similar advice to Osimhen after he helped Napoli win the league.
“I told him he had achieved the unthinkable for Napoli and the city, and that he should leave when the ovation was still strong.”
However, Osimhen chose to stay and renew his contract with the Italian giants.
Onazi reflected on this decision, stating that while things have not gone smoothly for the striker recently, his decision to stay and fight for his place proved to be the right one.
“When things went badly, he stepped up, proving that perhaps my advice had been the best option,” Onazi concluded.
Both Lookman and Osimhen have been crucial figures for their respective clubs in recent seasons, with Lookman making a strong impact at Atalanta and Osimhen playing a starring role in Napoli’s first Serie A title in over 30 years.
