GALATASARAY striker Victor Osimhen has delivered explosive testimony about his acrimonious departure from Napoli, accusing the club of racist treatment and betrayal following a penalty miss last season.
In a revealing interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nigerian international detailed the events that fractured his relationship with the Serie A champions, centring on a controversial TikTok video posted by the club that mocked his penalty miss.
“After Napoli posted that TikTok video, something definitely broke,” Osimhen told the Italian publication. “Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it. But Napoli did it only to me — and with certain insinuations. I was the victim of racist abuse, and I wanted to leave.”
The 25-year-old striker, who now plies his trade at Turkish giants Besiktas while continuing his prolific goalscoring form for Nigeria, revealed the deeply personal impact of the controversy. “I deleted my photos in a Napoli shirt from Instagram, and they used that opportunity to turn the fans against me,” he said. “And imagine this: my daughter feels more Neapolitan than Nigerian.”
Fan Confrontations and Broken Promises
Osimhen disclosed that Napoli supporters came directly to his residence seeking answers. “I feel sorry for the Napoli fans – especially because I never spoke about what happened. Some of them even came to my house to ask for an explanation. We talked, and I asked them to put themselves in my shoes.”
The striker also moved to dispel rumours of conflict with former manager Luciano Spalletti, who led Napoli to their first Scudetto in over three decades. “They said I had a fight with Spalletti, but that wasn’t true. I have huge respect for him,” Osimhen stated. “He stayed at the training ground for months, working day and night, and made us believe we could win the title.”
However, the breakdown came over what Osimhen described as a violated gentleman’s agreement. “We had a gentleman’s agreement that I could leave in the summer, but the other side didn’t fully keep their word,” he revealed. “They tried to send me anywhere, treated me badly – go here, go there, do this, do that. I worked hard to progress in my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet.”
The former Lille forward’s comments shed new light on one of the most contentious transfers in recent Serie A history, exposing the fractured relationship between player and club that ultimately ended his time in Naples.
