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Victor to victim?

In the realm of football, there exist tales of victory and defeat, of heroes and villains. The story of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen’s journey to stardom at Napoli is one such narrative.

Initially celebrated as the savior who ended Napoli’s 33-year-long quest for a league title, Osimhen’s fortunes took a dramatic turn, leading to moments of both adoration and derision.

On May 4, 2023, Osimhen etched his name into the hearts of Napoli fans forever. His powerful strike in the dying moments of the game against Udinese secured victory and ended Napoli’s Serie A title drought, setting off jubilant scenes among the traveling supporters and the packed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where fans in Naples watched history unfold on giant screens. The city erupted in joy, and Osimhen became an instant legend.

However, this season, after a strong start with three goals in the first two games, Osimhen faced a challenging four-game goal drought. He struggled to find the back of the net and endured criticism from fans and pundits alike. Despite these setbacks, he remained resolute and focused on his game.

The harshest criticism came when Osimhen missed a penalty against Bologna, costing Napoli a chance to secure all three points. In the waning minutes of the game, the Super Eagles striker was substituted for Giovanni Simeone. Unhappy with the substitution, Osimhen expressed his frustration towards Napoli coach Rudi Garcia as he made his way to the bench. Osimhen later issued apologies to the coach and his teammates, but the official TikTok account of the team exacerbated the situation by posting a video mocking Osimhen for his penalty miss. This action prompted a backlash from football fans worldwide, and Osimhen’s agent, Roberto Calenda, hinted at the possibility of legal action against Napoli.

Fame, unfortunately, can have its drawbacks. As Osimhen’s star continued to rise, he found himself at odds with his own club. Many viewed the TikTok video as a taunt against the player, leading to widespread criticism. Nigerian football legend Sunday Oliseh even advised Osimhen to leave the Italian champions.

In response to this unfortunate incident, Osimhen removed most of his pictures in Napoli’s jersey from his social media accounts. Despite ending his goal drought with a goal against Udinese, he did not celebrate as exuberantly as before.

Just four months after leading Napoli to their first league title in 33 years, Osimhen seems to have lost faith in the club to which he remained fiercely loyal. He turned down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia and the advances of top European clubs like Bayern Munich and Newcastle. Now, he feels abandoned and betrayed after being mistreated by his manager and ridiculed by his own club on social media.

Osimhen once believed he was loved in Naples, but recent events have raised doubts about whether he is still considered the team’s star player or merely a useful one who is no longer indispensable. His future is uncertain, with clubs from the Middle East and Europe likely to express interest in signing him soon. It’s possible that Osimhen could be sold in January, especially considering he has just two years left on his contract, which expires in June 2025. This might result in a more reasonable transfer fee compared to the €150 million President Aurelio de Laurentiis demanded in the summer.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Osimhen was dining when he learned of the TikTok video and promptly requested its removal. The strong reactions to Napoli’s TikTok video and the threat of legal action from his agent, Roberto Calenda, underscore the seriousness of the situation. Napoli fans are understandably concerned about what the future holds, especially as Osimhen has deleted his Napoli-related photos from his social media accounts.

Napoli, which experienced one of its greatest triumphs just four months ago, now finds itself in turmoil, partly due to its own actions, and faces the risk of losing its top player. In a statement released by the club, they emphasized that they never intended to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, recognizing him as a valuable asset to the team. Nevertheless, they did not issue a formal apology.

With four goals in six Serie A games this season, Osimhen remains focused on increasing his goal tally, despite the issues with his club, as they prepare to face Lecce on Saturday.

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