Napoli have stated they “never intended to offend or make fun of” Victor Osimhen after releasing a controversial TikTok video on the striker.
Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, accused Napoli of “mocking” the 24-year-old and threatened to take legal action after the club posted a TikTok which appeared to make fun out of the Nigeria international when he missed a penalty in Sunday’s goalless draw with Bologna.
The club cited the fact they rejected offers for Osimhen during the summer transfer window as “proof” that no offence was intended and emphasised the lighthearted nature of TikTok as a social media platform but refused to apologise for the video.
The statement read: “Napoli, in order to avoid any twisting of the issue, makes it clear that it never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen, the club’s striker.
“As proof of this, during the summer training camp, the club firmly rejected any offer received to sell the striker abroad.
“It is a fact of common experience that on social media, and particularly on TikTok, expressive language has always been carried out lightly and creatively, without having had, in the case of Osimhen, any intention of mockery or derision.
“In any case, if Victor had perceived any offence towards him, this was not the club’s intention.”
Calenda wrote on Twitter after the video was posted: “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable.
“A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted.”
Calenda said the post caused “serious damage” to his player and claimed the forward had been the victim of “fake news”.
He added: “We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.”
Photos of Osimhen playing for Napoli also appear to have been deleted from the 24-year-old’s Instagram account.
Osimhen started for Napoli during Wednesday’s 4-1 Serie A victory over Udinese, scoring his side’s second and playing 63 minutes at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The Nigeria international was the Serie A top scorer with 26 goals last season as Napoli won the title. He joined the Naples side from Lille for €70million (£62.1m; $74.8m) in 2020.
GO DEEPER
Osimhen’s future and how substitution, investigation and TikTok might define it
(Photo: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
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