Super Eagles and Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen has disclosed that his relationship with former club Napoli began to unravel after the Italian side’s TikTok account posted videos mocking him for missing a penalty during a league match.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Osimhen described the episode as a turning point that ultimately influenced his decision to leave the Serie A club.
He characterised the treatment he received as embarrassing and deeply hurtful.
After a match during the 2023–24 season in which Osimhen failed to convert a penalty, Napoli’s official TikTok account shared two short clips that were later deleted. One video displayed images of the striker alongside a coconut with lyrics saying, “I’m not a boy… I’m not a girl… I’m a coconut.” Another clip showed footage of him requesting the penalty and then missing it, edited with high-pitched, sped-up audio for comedic effect.
Reflecting on the controversy, Osimhen 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. And to think, my daughter, for me, is more Neapolitan than Nigerian.”
He explained that despite the incident, he attempted to maintain professionalism and referenced a prior understanding with the club regarding a potential transfer. According to Osimhen, there had been a gentlemen’s agreement that he could depart the following summer, but he believes the commitment was not fully honoured.
“We had a gentlemen’s agreement that I could leave the following summer, but the other side didn’t fully keep their promise. 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.
Osimhen also expressed regret over how the situation affected supporters of the club while rejecting speculation about misconduct on his part.
“No one ever publicly apologized for what happened. After that famous video, Edoardo De Laurentiis called me several times. Stop. Meanwhile, there were rumors that I was late to the pitch, that I was arguing with my teammates… It’s all lies. I feel sorry for the fans, but I understand and admire them: they always support the club. For them, Napoli comes first.”
The striker’s remarks shed further light on the tensions that surrounded his final months in Naples, culminating in his eventual departure and subsequent move to Galatasaray.
What you should know
Victor Osimhen says a controversial TikTok post by Napoli mocking him for a missed penalty marked the beginning of his fallout with the club.
He claims the incident involved racial undertones and contributed to his decision to leave, despite an alleged agreement allowing him to depart on agreed terms.
Osimhen maintains he remained professional and denies rumours of misconduct, while expressing respect for Napoli supporters.
