Victor Osimhen has opened up on his time at his former club side, Napoli, describing how he was treated as a 'dog' during his stay at the club.
Victor Osimhen has finally broken his silence on the breakdown of his relationship with Napoli, revealing the depth of the "betrayal" he felt from the club he once led to a historic Scudetto.
The Nigerian striker, who became a Neapolitan icon after netting 31 goals during the 2022-23 season, says the bond was irrevocably severed not just by transfer disputes, but by a lack of respect and a shocking social media scandal.
The TikTok Incident: "Something Broke"
The turning point in Osimhen’s tenure came in September 2023, when Napoli’s official TikTok account posted videos mocking the striker for missing a penalty against Bologna. The posts were widely condemned as having racist undertones and being "insulting" to the club’s star player.
"Anyone can miss a penalty, and anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli did it only to me, and with certain kinds of insinuations as well," Osimhen told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I was the victim of racist insults, and I made my decision. I wanted to leave."
Despite the public outcry, Osimhen claims the club failed to offer a formal apology. "No one ever publicly apologised for what happened. After that famous video, Edoardo De Laurentiis called me several times. That’s it."
"They Treated Me Like a Dog"- Victor Osimhen
While Osimhen eventually signed a contract extension in December 2023, he clarifies that the deal was a strategic move to protect his market value rather than a sign of reconciliation. According to the striker, a "gentleman's agreement" was in place for his exit—an agreement he claims the club failed to honor.
"They tried to send me anywhere to play, but they treated me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that. I worked so hard to build my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet."
Osimhen also took the opportunity to debunk rumours that he was a disruptive presence in the dressing room, labelling reports of him being late to training or fighting with teammates as "all lies."
A Message to the Fans
Despite his vitriol toward the club's leadership and President Aurelio De Laurentiis, Osimhen remains deeply connected to the city of Naples. He noted that his daughter is "more Neapolitan than Nigerian" and expressed his admiration for the supporters who were caught in the crossfire.
"I feel sorry for the fans," he said. "They support the club, no matter what. For them, Napoli comes before everything."
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