Victor Osimhen has opened up on his rather acrimonious departure from Napoli to Galatasaray last summer.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Osimhen insisted there were a lot of lies around the whole transfer drama.
Napoli adventure did not end in the best way
Osimhen: I feel sorry for the fans especially because I’ve never spoken about what happened. Some of them showed up at my house asking for explanations. We talked and I asked them to put themselves in my shoes. After Napoli posted that video on TikTok, something definitely broke.
Can you explain why?
Osimhen: Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli only did it to me, and with certain innuendos, too. I was the victim of racists insults, and I made my decision. I wanted to leave. I deleted photos of me in Napoli shirt from my Instagram and they seized the opportunity to turn the fans against me. And to think, my daughter, for me, is more Neapolitan than Nigerian…
Before Napoli released that video what was your relationship with De Laurentiis like?
Osimhen: We had a gentleman’s agreement that I could leave the following summer, but the other side didn’t fully keep their promise. They tried to send me to play everywhere, treating me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that…I worked so hard to advance my career, I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet.
Did Antonio Conte try to mend the rift?
Osimhen: Of course, even though they said he didn’t want me on the team. Are you serious? What coach wouldn’t have wanted me at that point? As soon as I arrived, Conte called me to his office and told me he was aware of the situation, but that despite everything, he wanted me to stay. I explained to him that I would have liked to work with him, but by then I had made my choice: I din’t want to work in a place where I wasn’t happy.
What do you regret the most?
Osimhen: No one apologised publicly for what happened. After that famous video, Edoard De Laurentiis called me several times. Stop. Meanwhile, there were rumours that I was late to the pitch, that I was arguing with my teammates…it’s all lies. I feel sorry for the fans, but I understand and admire them: they always support the club. For them Napoli comes first.
