Napoli manager, Walter Mazzarri insists it is important for him to protect the club’s talismanic striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen was sent off in the Partenopei’s 2-0 defeat to AS Roma last week.
The 24-year-old will miss the Serie A champions’ clash with Monza on Friday.
Mazzarri stated that he has pardoned the striker for picking a red card in the game.
“Perhaps he felt the pressure after such a great season,” Mazzarri told a press conference on Thursday.
“Unfortunately, he was returning from an injury, and now he will play in the Africa Cup of Nations. I pardon him [for the red card] because he must be protected.”