Victor Osimhen Opens Up: Napoli Treated Me Like A ‘Dog’ Before Galatasaray Transfer

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that he felt marginalized by Napoli despite significant interest from Juventus before his move to Galatasaray. According to Ireporter Online, Osimhen, who played a key role in Napoli’s 2022-2023 Serie A title-winning campaign under Luciano Spalletti, finishing as the league’s top scorer, experienced a strained relationship with the club in the following season.

A September 2023 TikTok video posted by Napoli, mocking the striker after a missed penalty against Bologna, marked a turning point. “After Napoli posted that video on TikTok, something broke. Anyone can miss a penalty, and anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli did it only to me, and with certain kinds of insinuations as well. I was the victim of racist insults, and I made my decision. I wanted to leave,” Osimhen said, as reported by Ireporter Online.

Despite signing a contract extension in December 2023, Osimhen indicated that a gentleman’s agreement had been made allowing him to depart the following summer—a promise he says was not honored. “They tried to send me anywhere to play, but they treated me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that,” he stated. “I worked so hard to build my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet.”

Osimhen further revealed that the then-new Napoli coach, Antonio Conte, attempted to persuade him to stay, but his decision to move to Galatasaray had already been made.