After publishing an abusive TikTok about the player earlier in the week, SSC Napoli has since apologized to Victor Osimhen.
After the Serie A winners suddenly shared a derogatory TikTok video following a missed penalty in a 0-0 draw with Bologna on Sunday night, Osimhen threatened legal action against the team. The striker was particularly enraged by the tweet, and shortly after, he erased any stuff about Napoli from his personal Instagram account.
The player “reserved the right to take legal” action against the club over the “awful” TikTok video,” Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda told the press on Wednesday.
“What happened on Napoli’s official TikTok profile today is unacceptable. Initially made public, a video making fun of Victor has now been removed.
“A severe fact that causes the athlete extremely serious harm and worsens the treatment the boy has been receiving over the past few months as a result of media trials and fake news.
“We reserve the right to take any necessary steps to protect Victor, including legal action.”
The player, who scored in Wednesday night’s 4-1 victory over Udinese, has now received an official apology from Napoli, who also clarified that they did not want to “offend or mock” him with the video.
“Calcio Napoli emphasizes that we never intended to harm or make fun of Victor Osimhen, who is a jewel of our club, in order to prevent any exploitation of the situation. As evidence of it, the club vehemently rejected every offer made for the striker to move abroad during the summer training camp, the club said.
“Social media, especially TikTok, has always employed expressive language with a lighthearted and creative attitude without intending to offend or mock, like in the case of Osimhen as the protagonist.
In any case, the club did not intend for Victor to take offense at him, if that was the case.
Osimhen’s future at the club is being closely watched by Chelsea, according to 90min, who may make a move for the talented striker during the summer 2024 transfer window.
After he led Napoli to their first Scudetto in more than three decades, the club has been eager to lock up their star player to a long-term contract. However, sources have told 90min that talks have slowed down recently due to a “variety of issues,” with the most recent TikTok post complicating matters even further.
