Things Fall Apart Between Osimhen and Napoli
*Trolled Nigerian deletes videos, pictures of him in Napoli shirts on Instagram
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen, and his management team, have
threatened legal action against Napoli for trolling the striker on the club’s official TikTok account yesterday.
Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, issued the threat on Wednesday afternoon after Napoli’s official TikTok account, which has 4.5 million followers, trolled the under-pressure striker with a voiceover high-pitched message mimicking him saying ”gimme penalty please” during his missed penalty against Bologna last Sunday.
Although the offensive social media message was deleted, several followers of the club saw it and expressed their unhappiness over the post.
In his reaction, Osimhen deleted all photos and videos featuring him in a Napoli shirt on his Instagram.
Calenda in a statement on his X handle yesterday said his client could take legal action against Napoli.
“What happened today (Wednesday) 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,” stressed the message from Osimhen’s agent.
Osimhen, cult-hero among Napoli fans has been unable to hit the form that made him the highest goals scorer in the Italian Serie A last season, helping the Neapolitans to their first Scudetto in 33 years. He scored 26 goals.
But yesterday, Osimhen ended his goal-drought as he was on target as Napoli defeated Udinese 4-1 in a midweek clash at the Maradona Stadium. Before that goal, he went three games without hitting the net with the missed penalty last Sunday at the centre of the present row. He now have four goals in the seven-week old Serie A season.
The Ballon d’Or nominee’s contract is due to run out in the summer of 2024. It has become unlikely that Osimhen will renew it and may leave in January transfer window.
