Osimhen reveals the behind-the-scenes story of his departure from Napoli and Conte's intervention
Nigerian star Victor Osimhen, the current Galatasaray striker, has made shocking revelations about the behind-the-scenes details of his tumultuous departure from Italian club Napoli, describing the treatment he received in his final days as unworthy of what he had given to the team, and pointing to coach Antonio Conte's attempts to salvage the situation.
In a lengthy interview with the Italian newspaper “La Gazzetta dello Sport”, Osimhen revealed the major rift that occurred in his relationship with the management of the former Italian league champion, which turned from a historic love story that culminated in the “Scudetto” title after decades of absence, into a bitter conflict that ended with his exit through the back door.
From hero of the South to a "puppet" in the hands of the administration
Osimhen explained that the turning point wasn't sudden, but rather the culmination of club policies. Despite the Nigerian striker's pivotal role in leading Napoli to the 2022-2023 Serie A title, he subsequently felt marginalized and disrespected. "I fought so hard to build my career," Osimhen said bitterly, "and I couldn't accept this kind of treatment. I'm not a puppet.".
He added, describing his feeling of being exploited: “I had a gentleman’s agreement with the club president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, that allowed me to leave the following summer, but the commitment was not fully honored. They tried to send me to play anywhere just for money; they treated me like a dog; go here, go there, do this, do that.”.
The TikTok scandal and the absence of an official apology
Osimhen returned to the topic of the infamous incident that proved to be the final straw, when Napoli's official TikTok account posted a video mocking him after he missed a penalty against Bologna. The player emphasized that the pain wasn't solely due to the video, but also to the club's lukewarm response.
He stated, "Something broke completely. There was no official apology from the club after the video. President De Laurentiis only contacted me a few times, but there was no public stance to protect me." He indicated that this silence allowed false rumors to spread about his lateness to training and disagreements with his teammates, which he categorically denied, emphasizing his deep respect for the Napoli fans who defended him.
Conte's latest attempt and its impact
In a related development, Osimhen revealed the role of new coach Antonio Conte, who took over in an attempt to get the team back on track. The Nigerian striker confirmed that Conte genuinely tried to mend the strained relationship.
Osimhen said: “As soon as he arrived, Conte called me into his office. He said he was aware of the situation and, despite everything, wanted me to stay and be part of his project. I explained to him that I would have liked to work with him, as he is a great coach, but I had already made my decision. I didn’t want to continue in a place where I didn’t feel happy or appreciated.”.
It is worth noting that Osimhen eventually moved to Turkish club Galatasaray on loan, in a deal that surprised fans, thus ending a dramatic chapter in southern Italy, leaving behind a great footballing legacy and an emotional wound that has not healed.
