Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are thought to be the front-runners for Victor Osimhen’s signature should the striker decide to leave Napoli in the wake a controversial social media post that appeared to mock the player, according to reports in Italy.
The Serie A side courted controversy when they posted two videos to their TikTok account that appeared to make fun of the 24-year-old, with one showing Osimhen missing a penalty, and the second – which has been circulated online and since deleted – compared the player to a ‘coconut’, widely viewed as a racial slur.
Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda threatened the club with legal action as the videos gained traction on social media, but amidst the storm of controversy, Osimhen started for the Scudetto winners against Udinese on Wednesday evening and scored in the 4-1 win.
But, as Mail Sport reported on Thursday, the striker is thought to have been already unhappy at the club before the social media firestorm, and could look to move on from Stadio Diego Armando Maradona just six months after playing an instrumental role in ending the club’s 33-year title drought.
Should he wish to transfer away from Napoli, the strongest interest could come from one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest clubs.
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
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
As per Gazzetta dello Sport, Al-Hilal promised Osimhen an astronomical five-deal that would see the player make up to £38million-per-year over the summer, and were set to pay his steep release clause at an estimated £173m.
Napoli’s owner Aurelio De Laurentiis was adamant however that the player who had been crucial to the club’s success last season would remain in Campania.
He is thought to have told the Gulf state club that they couldn’t even ‘buy a foot’ with the deal offered.
The Saudi Pro League side opted instead to buy a raft of international attacking talent – including Neymar Jnr, Ruben Neves, and Aleksandar Mitrovic before the window closed in September.
Bayern Munich and Newcastle are also thought to have made advances to the player during the summer’s transfer window, but Napoli’s intention to cling onto Osimhen kept him in Rudi Garcia’s set-up.
Less than four months later, the scene is entirely different. Osimhen is believed to have fallen out with Garcia due to playing a diminished role in his side and was furious when substituted over the weekend during the club’s tie against Bologna.
Following the release of the disturbing TikTok, Osimhen went as far as to delete all evidence of his playing for Napoli from his Instagram.
An earlier issue between the two parties involved an issue over Napoli denying Osimhen permission to film a charity video for causes in Africa, which is thought to have deepened a growing rift.
Osimhen is also thought to be disappointed that the club did not initially make a public apology following the TikToks’ publication.
The club’s hierarchy spoke to their player in private on Wednesday, but waited another 24 hours before releasing the statement which spoke of how significantly Osimhen was valued by the club.
“Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club,’ the statement read.
“As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.
“Social media, in particular TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.
“In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.”
The Nigeria international is yet to respond to the missive offered by the club, which does not contain an explicit apology.
Should Osimhen look to move on in January, Chelsea are believed to be another party interested in securing the services of the prolific striker as they seek to find a solution to their goalscoring issues.
The west London side scored just one goal in September to seal Carabao Cup victory against Brighton, ending a run of three matches without making the scoresheet.
