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

There are several factors that could see Victor Osimhen leave Napoli despite his heroics for the club during their Serie A triumph last season.

The club has tried to minimize the furor surrounding the ‘Tik Tok’ videos that were published and then deleted following a missed penalty against Bologna.

In the last match against Udinese, Osimhen scored 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 a truce that could last until a possible departure in January, at best for the club in June when only 12 months remain 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 accompanied by an official statement in which Napoli clarified that there was no intention to offend.

Napoli have never wanted to offend any of the main architects of their success last season, but the deterioration of diplomatic relations is now so obvious that it cannot be publicly hidden.

Although the videos, which have since been deleted, were intended to be ironic about the player’s mistake in the match against Bologna, they attracted widespread criticism and condemnation, potentially marking a definitive breaking point in player-club relations.

With one of the world’s most prolific strikers potentially up for grabs, speculation has been rife that Osimhen is on the verge of a move, and if so, there would be no shortage of suitors.

Real Madrid are looking for an heir to Karim Benzema, while Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea are looking for a top-quality striker.

Saudi Arabia could perhaps offer the most lucrative option for the Nigeria international, but it is unlikely 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 are probably the team with the highest expectations to sign him.

Osimhen loves the Premier League and would love to fulfill his dream of playing in England. During an interview with Sky Sports last year, Osimhen said he ‘works hard every day to earn the opportunity to play in the Premier League’.

Meanwhile, PSG also has the financial power necessary to be able to sign a player of Osimhen’s stature, but can also offer an almost guaranteed Champions League football on an annual basis.

With a number of clubs likely to be interested in signing the former Lille striker, here are the five fundamental points that seem to indicate that the hero of Napoli’s third Scudetto could be ready for a move away from Serie A.

Napoli posted videos to their TikTok that appeared to mock Osimhen for appealing a penalty in Sunday’s goalless draw against Bologna and his subsequent miss from the spot

A second video, reportedly from the club’s account, compared Osimhen to a ‘coconut’

TRUST BETRAYED

It is 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 entire controversial affair was a breach of trust that caused him great suffering.

Without trust, marriages don’t last, and the same goes for professional experiences.

In the wake of such outrage it is difficult to assess exactly where the players stand, but what is undeniable is that leaving the club brings with it a whole new appeal.

The fractured nature of Osimhen’s relationship with the club has already been exacerbated by the departure of Luciano Spalletti at the end of last season. Spalletti had a significant influence on the forward, who has now seen a huge shift in the training methods used at the club following the arrival of Rudi Garcia this summer.

Although 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 currently expires in June 2025 and in January the club is likely to make a last-ditch effort to facilitate the reopening of negotiations to extend his contract.

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 on him.

Today, Osimhen is likely no longer worth the £110m he was reportedly previously valued at, as the chances of the contract being extended are close to 0%.

The main problem was that negotiations on the contract extension were postponed for too long. This situation could have been less financially damaging, if not reputational, for Napoli if they had managed to tie him down to a longer contract 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 PLAYERS WITH A LOW PROFILE

Rudi Garcia has already shown that he does not like any single player being seen as bigger than the club, as both Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have probably been since last season’s successes.

Garcia is an excellent coach and certainly a tactical expert, but this whole episode threatens to undermine his position at the club and could see him lose control of the dressing room at such a crucial moment.

Osimhen would never want to be replaced, even if he had serious physical problems, but he must also understand the dynamics of the club and respect the coach’s choices.

The task of replacing a title-winning coach is an unenviable proposition for any manager and Garcia wants to ensure he has full control of the team he has inherited.

However, Napoli fans have already made their choice and are not choosing the manager.

Osimhen had a strong relationship with former Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti before leaving in the summer

NAPOLI MUST 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, we must not forget that De Laurentiis must serve the financial interests of his club and will be forced to make drastic decisions if Osimhen chooses not to renew his contract.

Napoli would never have wanted to create unpleasant moments for their star player, but this situation has arisen and the club must now be prepared to act to protect their investment in the transfer market.

One thing is certain: De Laurentiis will never let the player leave Napoli for free.

At Napoli, but also because of the economic problems of Italian football in general, no player can be considered irreplaceable. Everything has a price and the club may be forced to look for economic means to remain competitive in Serie A.

Should the player’s relationship with the club ultimately prove irreparable, Napoli will undoubtedly look to sell as quickly as possible

NO PLAYER IS IRREPLACEABLE AT NAPOLI

Osimhen is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in world football and Napoli should value him in the same way as so many other top players.

The main difference between Spalletti and his successor is that the Italian boss knew the importance of taking a unique approach with the 24-year-old, while Garcia seems to treat him as one of 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 stop the player’s ambitions and at the moment all top European clubs need a modern and physically strong striker like him.

The continued expression of interest from football around the world undoubtedly flatters 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 in the way he believes they will be during this controversy has happened.

Osimhen was instrumental in guiding Napoli to their first Scudetto in more than three decades last season