Napoli and Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has addressed the recent controversy surrounding him, breaking his silence after his club’s social media posts subjected him to mockery.
The Serie A club stirred a controversy this week by sharing TikTok videos on their official account that made fun of Osimhen. The first video depicted the 24-year-old jokingly requesting a penalty, accompanied by a fast-paced audio caption reading ‘Gimme penalty please.’ It then showed him taking a spot-kick that missed its target. In a second video, Osimhen was likened to a ‘coconut,’ a racial slur.
Napoli declined to issue an apology for these posts, asserting they had no intention to offend their star striker. Subsequently, Napoli’s social media executive stepped down from his position due to the offensive TikTok videos directed at Osimhen.
In response, Osimhen has now spoken out, emphasizing the importance of unity and expressing gratitude for the love and support he’s received from fans. In a statement, he said, “Coming to the city of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me. The people of Napoli have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us.”
He continued, “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 also addressed the allegations against the people of Naples, stating, “The accusations against 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.”
In conclusion, he emphasized unity, respect, and understanding and ended with the rallying cry, “FORZA NAPOLI SEMPRE” (Forward Napoli Forever).
