A strange misstep by SSC Napoli could have far-reaching consequences for the top club. Superstar Victor Osimhen is said to be considering legal action and even a farewell to Vesuvius.
According to media reports, a video appeared on the official TikTok account of SSC Napoli on Tuesday that is said to have severely upset the Nigerian. The Spanish portal “fichajes.net” even suspects that a farewell is on the cards.
The clip, which has since been deleted, is said to show Osimhen demanding a penalty – accompanied by a squeaky voice assigned to him (“Give me a penalty, please!”). When the 24-year-old receives the penalty, there is a beeped thank you and a completely exaggerated laugh before the attacker shoots the ball past the post. At least it’s anything but a flattering portrayal of the superstar who scored 26 goals to help Naples win their first championship title in 33 years in 2022/23.
“A video mocking Victor was first published and then belatedly deleted,” Osimhen’s advisor Roberto Calenda said. It is a “serious fact” that is simply “unacceptable” and that “adds to the treatment that the boy has recently suffered between media trials and fake news.” They are considering taking legal action.
An initial reaction that should give the club pause has now taken place. Osimhen has erased SSC Napoli from his social media presence. Osimhen currently only presents his 2.9 million followers with snapshots and videos that show him privately or in the uniform of the Nigerian national team.
When will SSC Napoli react?
The post is probably based on the fact that Osimhen put a penalty well wide of the goal in the 72nd minute of the 0-0 draw against FC Bologna on Sunday. The goalgetter had previously vehemently and successfully demanded that a handball be punished. Why Naples ridicules this action so much remains a strange mystery.
Especially since Osimhen will once again be one of the club’s best players in 2023/24. Against Bologna, only the post prevented a goal from being scored in the game. However, the striker has already scored three goals in five league games.
It will be interesting to see how and whether Osimhen reacts on Wednesday evening when SSC hosts Udinese Calcio (8:45 p.m.). There has been no apology or at least any reaction from the club, as has been demanded countless times on X (formerly Twitter).