Napoli‘s relationship with their star striker, Victor Osimhen, has hit rocky terrain, with the player’s agent, Roberto Calenda, threatening to take legal action against the reigning Italian Champions.
The controversy stems from Napoli’s official TikTok account posting videos that mocked Osimhen, including one where a high-pitched voice sarcastically requested a penalty from him, and another that poked fun at his bleached hair, comparing it to a coconut.
While the posts have been deleted, the damage has been done. Calenda expressed his concern, stating, “We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.”
He labeled the incident as unacceptable and highlighted the harm it caused to the player. Osimhen himself reacted strongly to the incident by deleting all Napoli-related content from his Instagram account.
Moreover, this dispute emerged after the prolific striker was substituted during Napoli’s recent goalless draw against Bologna.
Future for Osimhen
His questioning of manager Rudi Garcia’s decision to take him off further fueled speculation about a strained relationship with the club.
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Furthermore, the deadly forward, a crucial part of Napoli’s Serie A title-winning campaign last season, had been linked with top English clubs Chelsea and Manchester United over the summer.
Despite his impressive performance, he has faced criticism for not scoring in the last three matches, a dry spell that coincided with Napoli’s struggles in defending their Scudetto.
Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba strongly condemned Napoli’s actions, calling it “the lowest of low” and emphasizing that such treatment of a Ballon d’Or nominee and key player is disgraceful.
The incident has raised concerns of racial undertones, given Osimhen’s recent form and Napoli’s disappointing performances.
Adding to the turmoil, the Nigerian’s contract with Napoli is set to expire in June 2024, and he has yet to sign a new one.
This situation could potentially see him leave the club for free in January if no agreement is reached.
Osimhen’s Transfer Switch from Lille
In a related Napoli controversy, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is under investigation for alleged false accounting regarding Osimhen’s £74 million signing from Lille in July 2020.
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Also, the investigation centers on suspicions that Napoli inflated the wages of players they offloaded to Lille to help cover Osimhen’s transfer fee.
