Napoli 'treating me like a dog' after TikTok mockery forced transfer, says Victor Osimhen, ahead of Galatasaray's clash with admirers Juventus
Published 17/02/2026 at 11:53 GMT
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Galatasaray forward has opened up on his exit from Serie A just 12 months after leading Napoli to the title. Ahead of facing Juventus in the Champions League play-off round, he explained the racism suffered following TikTok video, how Antonio Conte wanted him stay and only president Aurelio De Laurentiis stopped him from making a move to the Bianconeri before leaving the Neapolitans for Turkey.
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Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen said he was treated "like a dog" at Napoli before his departure in 2024, which came just months after a controversial video posted on the club's TikTok page.
In September 2023, at a time when he was already regarded as one of the most talented strikers in European football, the Nigeria international was the subject of a bizarre video posted on the club's official social pages, which he described as a racist insult.
Napoli has a famously intense supporter base, and speaking ahead of Galatasaray's UEFA Champions League clash with Juventus, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, he expressed his remorse in the manner he left the club, explaining the video had fractured his relationship with his employers.
"I feel sorry for the fans, especially because I've never spoken about what happened," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"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 definitively broke."
Osimhen explained how following the decision to post that video on the club's official account, there was no way he could stay.
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"Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it," he added. "Napoli only did it to me, and with certain innuendos, too. I was the victim of racist insults, and I made my decision: I wanted to leave.
"I deleted photos of me in a 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."
Osimhen also revealed that there was a breakdown in his relationship with club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis for backing out of a pact.
"We had a gentlemen's agreement that I could leave the following summer, but the other side didn't fully keep their promise," he said.
"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."
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He had been linked with big-money moves to clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and others, but ultimately moved to Galatasaray on loan for the 2024/25 season in acrimonious circumstances.
In his debut season with Gala, he notched 37 goals in 41 appearances and a permanent move followed last summer, where he has since notcged 15 times in 22 matches.
Antonio Conte arrived in 2024 and won the Serie A title the following year and, despite re-signing Romelu Lukaku following Osimhen's departure, the Nigeria ace says the Italian wanted him to stay.
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"Of course [Conte wanted me], even though they said he didn't want me on the team," Osimhen said. "Are you serious? What coach wouldn't have wanted me at that point?
"As soon as I arrived, Conte called me into 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 didn't want to continue working in a place where I wasn't happy."
De Laurentiis ‘wouldn’t let me go’ to Juventus
Osimhen also discussed a potential move to Juventus, which failed to materialise. Juventus are one of Napoli’s Serie A rivals, and he said that there was little chance of the club letting him move to a potential title challenger.
He said that Juventus and two other big Italian sides were interested in him, adding: "Yes, just as I could be at two other top Serie A clubs today.
"Before negotiations with Galatasaray began, [Juve's former director of football Cristiano] Giuntoli called me to bring me to Juve.
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"I spoke to a couple of people at the club, and they showed interest, but I knew he [De Laurentiis] wouldn't let me go. In any case, the interest was definitely there. And when Juve call you, regardless of everything, you have to sit down and listen."
Osimhen felt that the move to Turkey, often seen as a less competitive league than more glamorous competitions in other European countries, had not dampened his ability.
Indeed, he claimed he was one of the top three strikers in the world.
He said: "I don't like making comparisons, but I know I'm among the best centre-forwards around. If I'm not No.1, I'm No. 2. Or, at worst, No. 3."
Juventus will play Galatasaray in Turkey on Tuesday evening, with kick-off at 17:45 UK time.
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