An Analysis of Napoli's Dynamic Duo

The signing of two fine forwards changed the fate of Napoli. One is known for his mind-boggling dribbling, and the other for his clinical finishing. I’m talking about Georgian baller Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.

Napoli signed the then-21-year-old Gregorian for just €13.3m. His market value has now risen nearly 500% to €80m. The winger has played 79 games for Napoli, scoring 24 goals and assisting 23. Moreover, you will always find Khvicha Kvaratskhelia exploding through the left flank, scoring crackers for the men in blue. Nicknamed “Kvaradona” after Napoli legend Diego Maradona, he lives up to the name by making dribbles similar to the late Argentine.

The Gli Azzurri signed Victor Osimhen on September 1, 2020. Ever since then, the 25-year-old has proven himself to be the MVP. Osimhen scored 72 goals and assisted 18 in just 124 appearances. Of the 17 games he played this season, he has scored in 11. This ability to consistently score goals makes him the most dangerous player on the pitch.

Combine Osimhen’s lethality with the dribbles of Kvaratskhelia, and you’ve got a dangerously good duo.

Diving into Kvaratskhelia’s playstyle, he is an explosive dribbler, being able to dribble into the penalty box from the left wing, creating tons of chances for his team to take the lead. This makes the jobs of right-backs and right-centre-backs critical for the safety of their team. The need to scan for a lethal Gregorian is a tough job. His dribbling skills bless him each time the ball lands on his feet, and his feet don’t fail him.

Victor Osimhen is a natural number 9. Whenever he gets in possession of the ball, the defence is in threat of a potential breach. The 25-year-old’s clinical finishing makes him one of the best number 9s in the world. Besides his shooting, his aerial ability is off the charts, comparable to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. This ability makes set pieces extremely valuable to Napoli. So do crosses from either flank and distributions from the midfield.

These two phenomenal forwards pair well with each other. Kvaratskhelia’s dribbling with Osimhen’s finishing is a deadly combination. Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen recently demonstrated their class in an away match against Sassuolo. In a thrilling response to the Neroverdi’s lone goal, Napoli scored 6, including a hat-trick from Osimhen and a brace from Kvaratskhelia. The duo showed the world what they were capable of.

Osimhen’s fine shooting with Kvaratskhelia’s exquisite dribbling is a treat for the eyes to watch. The two keep on carrying Napoli and prevent them from crumbling. Currently, in 7th place in the Serie A, I Ciucciarelli are trailing 31 points from league-leaders Inter Milan. The impact of the duo on the club has been incredible.

But it doesn’t eliminate the fact that both of them might be signed by bigger clubs, with Barcelona interested in signing Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen being heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, alongside garnering interest from Paris Saint-Germain. If the exit of Napoli’s dynamic duo is imminent, The Blues would be in big trouble.