Napoli’s manager, Rudi Garcia, has addressed the recent controversy surrounding striker Victor Osimhen and the club’s TikTok video.
Earlier this week, Napoli’s official TikTok account, which is known for its humorous videos about players, faced backlash for posting two videos featuring Osimhen.
One of these videos poked fun at his missed penalty against Bologna, while the other made a comparison involving a coconut.
Osimhen was understandably upset by this situation and took down all images of himself in a Napoli jersey from his Instagram account. His agent, Roberto Calenda, even issued a legal warning to Napoli.
Although the videos have since been removed, reports indicate that Osimhen has not yet received an apology from the team. Despite this, Garcia attempted to downplay the incident after witnessing Osimhen score in a victory against Udinese on Wednesday.
“Over the last two days, there was a bit of trouble with some clumsy behaviour,” Garcia told DAZN after the game. “Nobody wanted to be hurtful, not TikTok with the video of Victor, nor Victor by taking his photographs down on social media.
“Nobody intended to hurt anyone; these are instinctive reactions and are understandable.
“It is his social media account; he can do what he wants with it. All I can say is that he loves this jersey and will give everything for Napoli this season as well.”
Due to the controversial social media posts, there have been doubts regarding Victor Osimhen’s future with the club.
The Nigerian star played a pivotal role in Napoli’s last season, helping them secure the Scudetto after a 33-year drought with an impressive tally of 26 goals.
As a result, he is expected to attract interest from Saudi Arabian teams when the January transfer window opens.
Furthermore, reports suggest that top European clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid have shown interest in signing the striker.
Despite the recent controversies, Osimhen showcased his skills by scoring a goal for Napoli in their recent match against Udinese.
Fans can look forward to seeing him in action once again when Napoli faces Lecce on Saturday, September 30th.