The Sunday Mail
Victor Osimhen has removed nearly all photos of him in a Napoli shirt from his Instagram account following TikTok videos from the club which appeared to mock the forward.
The striker who fired Napoli to a first league title in over 30 years last season, was the target of a video where he was mocked by his own club on social media on Tuesday.
One video centered around his penalty miss during Sunday’s goalless draw against Bologna.
It was a rare miss for the Nigerian who has scored 62 goals in 107 appearances for the Serie A side, yet the video appeared to mock him for his attempts to persuade for the penalty to be given.
The video showed the 24-year-old appealing for a penalty, but using a strange sped-up voice with the caption ‘Gimme penalty please’ before showing him blazing the spot-kick wide of the post.
A second video allegedly from the club’s account, which has been circulated online and since deleted, compared Osimhen to a ‘coconut’ – widely viewed as a racial slur.
Osimhen has removed the majority of photos of him wearing a Napoli shirt from Instagram, with a single post remaining.
There is a now serious risk that Osimhen decides do not participate in Napoli’s Serie A match against Udinese on Wednesday night.
The incident has case serious doubt over the relationship between last season’s top scorer in Serie A and the reigning Italian champions.
A lack of dialogue over contract negotiations between Osimhen and Aurelio De Laurentiis’ club has already led to concerns over the Nigerian forward’s future.
Osimhen’s contract expires in June 2025, which could led to Napoli being forced to consider a sale in either the January or summer transfer windows.
The TikTok videos posted from Napoli’s account and Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda threatening legal action against the club has created a media storm and concern among the club’s supporters.
All the anticipation will shift to the match against Udinese to see if Osimhen will start or begin the match on the bench.
The rift between the player and the club has created a difficult situation, which has increased the likelihood Osimhen could sold.
Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has suggested that Osimhen is considering legal action against his club over the now deleted video.
Calenda tweeted: ‘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.
‘A serious fact that causes very serious damage to the player and adds to the treatment that the boy is suffering in the last period between media trials and fake news.
‘We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.’
Napoli are yet to acknowledge the video which was deleted from their TikTok account.
There also appeared to be tension between Osimhen and Rudi Garcia, with the striker seen berating his new manager after being substituted late on as they searched for a winner.
It was confirmed after the match though that Osimhen had apologised to Garcia and his Napoli team-mates for the way he showed his disappointment in being taken off the pitch.
Arsenal fan Piers Morgan has issued a plea to Osimhen to join the Gunners in the aftermath of the video.
He tweeted: ‘Don’t take this terrible treatment @victorosimhen9 – come to Arsenal instead.’
Osimhen has been linked with a number of clubs including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in recent times.
The forward is believed to be valued by his club at around £150m. – Daily Mail Online
