Osimhen: Napoli Tried to Make Me a Puppet, Treated Me Like a Dog

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has opened up for the first time about the breakdown of his relationship with Napoli, accusing the club of treating him ‘like a dog’ and attempting to make him a ‘puppet.’

Osimhen was instrumental in Napoli’s historic Serie A triumph in the 2022/23 season, but tensions quickly escalated during protracted contract extension talks.

Although he eventually signed a new deal in December 2023, Napoli later rejected lucrative offers from Paris Saint-Germain and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, who were reportedly prepared to pay him up to $1.1 million per week.

The fallout led to a strained relationship with club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Osimhen was frozen out of the first team and relegated to the U-23 squad before sealing a loan move to Galatasaray in the summer of 2024. He later joined the Turkish giants permanently after a drawn-out process.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Galatasaray’s Champions League playoff clash with Juventus, the 27-year-old revealed Napoli failed to honor a gentleman’s agreement.

‘We had a gentleman’s agreement that I could leave next summer, but the other side didn’t fully fulfill that commitment. They sent me everywhere to play, they treated me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that… I worked so hard to build my career, I couldn’t accept this kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet,’ Osimhen said.

He also recalled the controversy surrounding a video posted on Napoli’s social media mocking him for missing a penalty against Bologna.

‘No one has publicly apologized for what happened. After that infamous video, the one where Napoli compared me to a coconut, Edoardo De Laurentiis called me a few times.

Meanwhile, rumors circulated that I was late to the pitch, that I argued with teammates… all of that is false. I feel sorry for the fans, but I understand and appreciate them. They always support the club. For them, Napoli comes first.’