Nigerian manager Jose Peseiro criticized Napoli for an unusual social media video that ridiculed Victor Osimhen for his missed penalty against Bologna.
Napoli’s TikTok video featuring Osimhen missing a penalty and accompanied by a high-pitched voice requesting, “Gimme penalty, please,” led to significant controversy, as did another clip where the striker was depicted as a coconut.
Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, threatened legal action against Napoli for posting the videos. In response, the Nigerian also deleted all references to the Partenopei from his Instagram account as a sign of protest.
Now, Super Eagles coach Peseiro has come down heavily on the Serie A champions.
“That video? From the club? From the outside, it is one thing but a video from the club is the worst. That cannot happen,” Peseiro told Sky Sports. “He was sad because it is not easy for anyone. He does not understand it. He does not understand why.”
He added: “Osimhen is a star. Two years ago, he was not a star. Now, he is a star. And when you are a star, everybody wants more, more, more. The others can do bad but if Osimhen does bad it is different because people demand more from the players who can do more. It was a bad thing that Napoli did. Of course, he would prefer they do not do it.”
Napoli released a statement to clarify that they did not mean to show disrespect to Osimhen, especially after the striker refrained from celebrating his goal against Udinese.
Nonetheless, the club did not issue an apology in their statement.
Nigeria is scheduled to play a friendly match against Saudi Arabia on Friday, followed by a match against Mozambique three days later.