Napoli striker Victor Osimhen is considering legal action against his own club following a controversial video that surfaced and was later removed from Napoli’s official TikTok account, seemingly mocking the Nigerian player.
The incident unfolded after Osimhen missed a late penalty in a goalless draw against Bologna in Serie A on Sunday. The video posted on TikTok featured a clip of the penalty miss with an unusual, sped-up voice dubbed over the top. Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, labeled the video as causing “very serious damage to the player.”
In a statement shared on social media, Calenda expressed dissatisfaction with the club’s behavior: “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable. A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted. We reserve the right to take legal action and any other useful initiative to protect Victor.”
This incident comes in the wake of strained relations between Osimhen and Napoli manager Rudi Garcia during the game against Bologna. The 24-year-old striker was seen confronting Garcia as he was substituted with just four minutes remaining in the match.
Osimhen, a key player for Napoli, had played a pivotal role in the team’s triumph last season when they secured their first league title in three decades. However, tensions seem to have been brewing as Osimhen did not agree to sign a new contract with the Italian team. Notably, he had also garnered interest from Manchester United during the summer.
As the controversy unfolds, Napoli, the reigning champions, currently stand at seventh place in the standings and are set to play Udinese at home on Wednesday. The club’s actions and the subsequent fallout from this incident will undoubtedly be closely observed by fans and football enthusiasts alike.
