Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has recounted the role Mario Balotelli played in his recovery from a facial injury that kept him out of Serie A action for at least two weeks last season.
The 23-year-old Nigerian international was injured in a clash of heads with Inter Milan defender, Milan Skriniar during their fixture at San Siro on November 21, and he had to be operated upon two days later.
The injury saw Osimhen miss a couple of matches for Napoli and it also ruled him out of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Osimhen, who now plays wearing a facemask, has come out to explain the message he received from the 31-year-old Italian striker.
“He [Balotelli] sent me a DM like he was checking up on me when I was recovering from my facial injury, he sent me a DM, it was really encouraging and I like that, you know,” Osimhen said in a live interview conducted on Instagram.
“I really appreciate these things because for me I never expected it, but when I was on Instagram, I followed him [Balotelli] without me even thinking he will follow me back… so he is somebody I really like, he is an amazing human being, he is an amazing person.”