Italian Serie A club SSC Napoli have released an official statement on the offensive TikTok videos posted earlier in the week about Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen had threatened legal action against the Serie A champions after the club shockingly posted a discriminatory TikTok video following a missed penalty in 0-0 draw with Bologna on Sunday. The post notably upset the striker, who deleted most of all Napoli-related content on his Instagram account afterwards.
The Statement reads:
Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club”.
“As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad”.
“Social media, in particular TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision”.
“In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended”.,” the statement concluded.
Napoli have been keen to tie its star man down to a long-term contract after he fired them to their first Italian Serie A title since the days of Diego Maradona. However, the recent TikTok post could further complicate negotiations.
On Wednesday, Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda confirmed that the player ‘reserved the right to take legal’ action against the club for the “unacceptable” TikTok video.
“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 told the press.
“A serious fact that causes very serious damage to the player and adds to the treatment that the boy is suffering in the last period between media trials and fake news. We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.”
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