An insight into what led to the breakdown in relationship between Victor Osimhen and Napoli that escalated yesterday, when a video mocking the striker over his missed penalty against Bologna was posted on the club social media handle has been unraveled.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 24 year old who was in the news after a verbal confrontation with coach Rudi Garcia when he was substituted in the game against Bologna has already made it known that he will be seeking legal advice on the next step to take regarding the video, as said by his agent Roberto Calenda.
Osimhen was the one who saw the video and told the social media handler to take the video down before it goes viral, but his request was rebuffed until yesterday when the issue escalated further.
The Italian publication are also reporting that the video is just a bit of the unease between the striker and the club, which has been on since the summer when he was approached to renew his deal which has two years left to run.
Fresh from winning the league title, Osimhen verbally agreed to extend his deal at the club in a meeting with president Aurelio de Laurentiis. Talks were held in that regards but ten days later Osimhen’s agent backtracked on the agreement asking for more money.
His u-turn came after an extraordinary offer from Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal. At that point Napoli were prepared to let him leave but time to get a replacement and also sanction his sale at their valuation ran out.
Aside that there is also tension between the Nigerian and Garcia, who is finding it increasingly hard to manage the Nigerian since taking over from Luciano Spalletti shortly after the title win, which was largely powered by Osimhen.
From all available reports, a move away in the January transfer window is imminent although all that could change if the club offers a public apology instead of their current stand that their handle on TikTok usually trolls their players, and his case wasn’t done with any malicious intent.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman