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Napoli have released an official statement on the TikTok video involving their striker Victor Osimhen @victorosimhen9
The Italian champions insists the now-deleted video was not intended to mock Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen. The video, which was posted on Napoli’s TikTok made a joke of Osimhen missing a penalty in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Bologna, with an odd, sped-up voice dubbed over the top.
The high-pitched voice was saying “gimme penalty please.” Osimhen reacted by deleting all Napoli-related posts on his Instagram page.
The 24-year-old forward’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has also threatened to take legal actions against Napoli over the post. “It is 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”, tweeted Calenda.
“We reserve the right to take legal action and useful initiative to protect Victor”, he added.
However, Napoli has said that the club “never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen.”. In a statement released on Napoli’s official website on Thursday they wrote “to avoid any potential exploitation of the matter, SSC Napoli would like to explicitly state that the club never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen, who is an asset to the club.”
“Over the course of the summer Napoli rejected all offers to sign the striker – firm proof of the club’s appreciation of him. On social media, and TikTok in particularly, expressive language is used in a light-hearted and playful manner. In this case involving Victor there was no intention of mockery or derision.”
“If Victor was in any way offended, this was not at all in the club’s intentions.”
Meanwhile Osimhen scored Napoli’s second goal against Udinese on Wednesday evening, but did not celebrate.
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