Osimhen breaks silence, accuses Napoli of maltreatment after exit
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has spoken publicly about the circumstances that led to his controversial departure from Napoli in 2024, alleging disrespect and unfair treatment during his final days at the club.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nigerian forward said his relationship with the Italian side deteriorated after videos that mocked him were posted on the club’s TikTok page. He explained that the incident marked the beginning of the crisis between him and the club’s hierarchy.
Osimhen disclosed that he reacted by removing all photos of himself in Napoli colours from his Instagram account. According to him, the club then turned supporters against him.
Speaking on a penalty he missed during a Serie A match at the peak of the controversy, he said, “Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli only did it to me, and with certain innuendos, too. I was the victim of racist insults, and I made my decision: I wanted to leave. I deleted photos of me in a Napoli shirt from my Instagram, and they seized the opportunity to turn the fans against me.”
The striker further revealed that there had been an understanding that he would be allowed to leave the club the following summer. He alleged that the agreement was not respected.
“We had a gentleman’s agreement that I could leave the following summer, but the other side didn’t fully keep their promise.”
Osimhen said the club’s conduct afterward made the situation worse, claiming he was pushed around without regard for his career plans.
“They tried to send me to play everywhere, treating me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that. I worked so hard to advance my career, I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet,” he said.
Following the dispute, Napoli excluded the forward from their squad ahead of the 2024/25 season. He was not registered for Serie A action and was later sent out on loan to Galatasaray. He eventually sealed a permanent exit from the Italian side, completing a €75 million move to his current club last year.
Osimhen’s remarks have reignited debate among fans and analysts over the breakdown in relations between the Nigerian international and his former employers.