October 1st 2023.
Victor Osimhen, Napoli's striker, has finally broken his silence on the two controversial videos posted on the club's TikTok account. The videos mocked the Nigeria international, with one labelling him a 'coconut' which has been viewed as a racial slur.
Osimhen has taken a stand against the way Napoli have handled the matter, and on Sunday, he addressed the furore in a statement on social media. He called for ‘unity, respect and understanding’ and distanced fans from the videos, thanking them for their support.
He wrote: "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. 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. The accusations against people of Naples are untrue."
Osimhen went on to thank Nigerians and everyone for leading their voices to support and reach out to him. He further expressed his gratitude for the city of Naples and the people in it who have become a part of his everyday life and family.
The forward has refused to take a penalty since the TikTok video was posted and has also snubbed the opportunity to celebrate after scoring against Udinese and Lecce in recent matches. He will next be in action on Tuesday night when Napoli take on Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Although Napoli issued a statement on Thursday in which they described the striker as a ‘treasure of the club’, they have failed to offer a formal apology. Osimhen is believed to have received a private apology from Napoli’s board of directors while the club’s social media executive has now stepped down from his role.
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