Victor Osimhen, the star player for Napoli, made his first public appeal for peace following his well-publicized dispute with the Italian team on TikTok. In order to quell concerns of escalating conflict, the striker discussed the situation locally in an update on his Instagram story.
In his team’s goalless draw with Bologna last weekend, Osimhen missed a penalty. After that, a clip was released on the club’s official TikTok account that looked to make fun of him. Racist claims were made in response to a second clip that showed the 24-year-old Nigerian had been dubbed “a coconut.”
The films infuriated the Ballon d’Or nominee, who then removed the majority of the club-related photos from his Instagram account. Prior to the Udinese encounter during the middle of the week, he also seemed to neglect Diego Demme and Piotr Zielinski, which led to rumours of tension.
“Thanks so much, I’m forever grateful” : Victor Osimhen
Following Napoli’s play against Udinese, manager Rudi Garcia addressed the misunderstanding, and the team issued a statement. Following suit, Osimhen issued an address of his own during which he reaffirmed his affection for the club and the people of Naples.
He wrote, “Coming to the City of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me. The People of Naples have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us.” He added, “The passion of the People of Naples fuels my fire to always play with my heart and soul, and the love for the badge is unwavering as I wear it with pride.”
Osimhen’s agency had once threatened to sue Napoli, which sparked speculation about a possible transfer for next summer. The Nigerian concluded by saying that, “The accusation against the People of Naples are untrue. I have a lot of friends that are Napolitans and have become part of my family and everyday life. I appreciate Nigerians and everyone for lending their voices to support and reach out to me. Thanks so much, I’m forever grateful.”
