Victor Osimhen could be set for a dramatic departure from Napoli following the social media scandal but there are also other factors at play that could see the striker seek pastures new
- Victor Osimhen could depart Napoli following recent social media controversy
- The striker was left furious after the club appeared to mock him on social media
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There are multiple factors that could see Victor Osimhen to leave Napoli despite his heroics for the club in their Serie A triumph last season.
The club have been trying to minimize the furore surrounding the ‘Tik Tok’ videos published and then removed after a missed penalty against Bologna.
In the last match against Udinese, Osimhen netted in a 4-1 win before shaking hands with manager Rudi Garcia when he was substituted in the second-half.
According to reports from Italy, this interaction between the manager and his star striker represents an armistice which could last until a potential departure in January, in the best case scenario for the club, June, when there will be just twelve months remaining on his contract.
According to the ‘Corriere dello Sport’ the player demanded a public apology from the club following the controversial videos on TikTok, with the apology coming with an official statement in which Napoli clarified that there had been no intention to offend.
Napoli never wanted to offend one of the principal architects of their success last season, but the worsening of diplomatic relations is now so evident that it cannot be hidden publicly.
Victor Osimhen’s future at Napoli is in serious doubt following the controversy surrounding videos posted on social media by the club
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While the videos, which have since been deleted, were intended to be ironic about the player’s mistake in the match against Bologna, they have received widespread criticism and condemnation, potentially marking a definitive breaking point in relations between player and club.
With one of the world’s most prolific strikers potentially up for grabs, speculation has ran rampant that Osimhen could be set for a move, and there would be no shortage of suitors if that is the case.
Real Madrid is looking for a heir to Karim Benzema, while Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea are in search of a top-quality striker.
Saudi Arabia could perhaps offer the most lucrative option for the Nigeria international, but it is unlikely that the 24-year-old would be keen on a move to the Saudi Pro League at this stage of his career.
Of all the teams interested in the star, Chelsea is probably the team with the highest hopes of signing him.
Osimhen loves the Premier League and would really like to live his dream of playing in England. During an interview with Sky Sports over the last year Osimhen said that he ‘works hard every day to earn the chance to play in the Premier League’.
Meanwhile PSG also possess the financial might required to be able to sign a player of Osimhen’s statute but could also offer near guaranteed Champions League football on a yearly basis.
With a number of clubs likely to be interesting in signing the former Lille striker, here are the five fundamental points that appear to indicate that the hero of Napoli’s third Scudetto could be set for a departure from Serie A.
Napoli posted videos on their TikTok which appeared to mock Osimhen for appealing for a penalty in Sunday’s goalless draw against Bologna and his subsequent miss from the spot
A second video, allegedly from the club’s account, compared Osimhen to a ‘coconut’
TRUST BETRAYED
It’s impossible to get into the head and heart of Osimhen but what is certain is that the player is very sensitive and affectionate.
Osimhen had become a hero for his exploits in the city of Naples but the public nature of the whole controversial affair has constituted a betrayal of trust that has left him suffering heavily.
Without trust, marriages do not last and the same goes for professional experiences.
In the wake of such an outrage it is difficult to assess exactly where the players stands but what is undeniable is that a move away from the club bring with it an all-new appeal.
The fractured nature of Osimhen’s relationship with the club had already been exacerbated by the departure of Luciano Spalletti at the end of last season. Spalletti had a significant influence on the striker, who has now seen a seismic shift in the training methodologies employed at the club following the arrival of Rudi Garcia this summer.
Though he shook hands with boss Rudi Garcia on Wednesday, Osimhen’s relationship with the club is believed to be fractured
HIS CONTRACT EXPIRES IN 2025
Osimhen’s contract is currently set to expire in June 2025 and in January a last ditch attempt will likely be made by the club to facilitate reopening negotiations to renew his deal.
Should this attempt fail, the club will have to make a drastic decision and try to sell the player knowing that they could lose him on a free transfer if they don’t.
The ugly Tik Tok affair has damaged the club’s bargaining power over one of football’s most coveted strikers and they will no longer be able to make expensive demands for him.
Osimhen today is likely no longer worth the £110m he had reportedly previously been valued at because the chances of the contract being renewed are close to 0%.
If anything, the problem was delaying the negotiation for the contract renewal too long. This situation could have been less financially, if not reputationally, damaging for Napoli if they had managed to tie him down to a longer deal after his sensational performances last season.
The 24-year-old is one of the most coveted strikers in all of world football, but his contract expires at the end of next season
GARCIA WANTS LOW PROFILE PLAYERS
Rudi Garcia has already shown that he does not like any single player being perceived as being bigger than the club in the way both Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia arguably have been since last season’s successes.
Garcia is an excellent coach, and certainly an tactical expert but this whole episode risks undermining his position at the club and could see him lose control of the dressing room at such a crucial time.
Osimhen would never want to be replaced, not even if he had serious physical problems, but he must also understand the dynamics of the club and respect the choices of the coach.
Tasked with replacing a title-winning coach is an unenviable proposition for any manager and Garcia wants to ensure that he has full control over the team he has inherited.
Napoli fans however, have already made their choice, and they are not siding with the manager.
Osimhen had a strong relationship with former Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti prior to his departed in the summer
NAPOLI HAVE TO PROTECT THE CLUB’S FINANCES
Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis loves Osimhen so much that he rejected at least two serious offers for the striker in the summer.
However, it must be remembered that De Laurentiis must serve the financial interests of his club and will forced to make drastic decisions if Osimhen elects not to renew his contract.
Napoli would never have wanted to create unpleasant moments for its star player but this situation has arisen and the club must now be prepared to act in order to protect their investment in the transfer market.
One thing is certain: De Laurentiis will never allow the player to leave Napoli on a free.
At Napoli, but also due to the economic problems of Italian football at large, no player can be considered irreplaceable. Everything has a price and the club may be forced to look for economic resources to remain competitive in Serie A.
Should the player’s relationship with the club ultimately prove irreparable, Napoli will no doubt look to sell as soon as possible
NO PLAYER IS IRREPLACEABLE AT NAPOLI
Osimhen is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in world football and Napoli need to value him in a manner similar to so many other top players are.
The principal difference between Spalletti and his successor is that the Italy boss knew just how imperative it is to adopt a unique approach with the the 24-year-old while Garcia seems to treat him like one of the many players at his disposal.
Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and all the richest clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested in him. It is difficult to put a stop to the player’s ambitions and right now all the top European clubs need a modern and physically strong center forward like him.
The continuous displays of interest from across world football no doubt flatter Osimhen and it is no surprise that he would want to play for a team where his talent and work rate are valued and not undermined the way he feels they have been throughout this controversy.
Osimhen was integral in guiding Napoli to their first Scudetto in more than 30 years last season
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