Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 2:25 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 2:27 p.m.
Victor Osimhen (27 years old) does not forget or forgive the scandalous separation from Napoli in August 2024. The Nigerian striker attacked his former club with which he won the title, even under the command of Luciano Spalletti, the coach of Juventus and the rival of Galatasaray in the play-off round of the Champions League.
Victor Osimhen is an idol in Istanbul and feels great in the shirt of Galatasaray, where he has a fixed average of one goal contribution per game: 52 successes and 11 assists in 63 games. The Nigerian is the best scorer of the champion of Turkey this season in the Champions League.
The 27-year-old striker was close last summer to a transfer to Juventus, even tonight's opponent (19:45, livetext on GSP.ro, live on Digi Sport 1 and Prima Sport 1), but Napoli sold him for 75 million euros to Galatasaray, after having loaned him in 2024-2025.
In the apparently ironic video, Victor Osimhen was compared to a coconut. Some then called it a racist attack!”
It has been 531 days since the Nigerian left Italy to move to Istanbul. The departure from Napoli came after months of heightened tensions on social media.
Victor Osimhen is quoted on Transfermarkt.com at 75 million euros / Photo: Imago
It all started with a video posted on TikTok by the club's official account after Osimhen's penalty kick miss against Bologna. In the apparently ironic video, Victor was compared to a coconut.
“Some have called it racism and the debate has raged for weeks. Meanwhile, the striker responded unequivocally by deleting all photos from his Instagram account from his time at Napoli.” recalls La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Osimhen gave an interview to the pink daily in which he explains the version of the divorce from Napoli: “I feel sorry for the fans, especially because I never talked about what happened. Some of them came to my house asking for explanations.
Osimhen: “I worked so hard in my career that I could not accept such treatment. I am not a puppet!”
I spoke and asked them to put themselves in my shoes. After Napoli posted that video on TikTok, something broke, for sure. Anyone can miss a penalty, anyone can be mocked for it. Naples only did this to me, and with some innuendo.
Victor Osimhen is the most expensive transfer in Napoli's history // Photo: Imago
I was the victim of racist insults and I made the decision: I wanted to leave. I deleted all the photos in the Napoli shirt from Instagram and they took the opportunity to turn the fans against me. And to think that my daughter, for me, is more Neapolitan than Nigerian…”, declared Osimhen.
We had a gentlemen's agreement that we could leave the following summer, but on the other hand, the promise was not entirely kept. They tried to send me to play everywhere, they treated me like a dog.
Go here, go there, do this, do that… I worked so hard to build a career that I couldn't accept such treatment. I'm not a puppet!” Victor protested.
“Spalletti slept for months in the training camp, working non-stop to convince us that we can win the title with Napoli”
The Nigerian striker also referred to Luciano Spalletti, who he coached in the most matches in his professional career, 71 games, with 49 goals and 12 assists.
Victor Osimhen won only one trophy with Luciano Spalletti in Naples, the title in the 2022-2023 edition / Photo: Imago
I could play for Juventus today, as well as two other top clubs in Serie A. Before the talks with Galatasaray started, Giuntoli called me to bring me to Juve. I spoke to a few people at the club, they showed interest, but I knew that he (no – De Laurentiis, whom Osimhen never mentions) would not let me go. In any case, the interest was certainly there. And when Juve calls you, regardless of the situation, you have to take it into account
– Victor Osimhenthe striker of Galatasaray
“They said we were fighting, but it wasn't true. I really respect him a lot. He slept for months in Napoli's training centre, working day and night to convince us we could win the title.
It brought Kim, Anguissa, Kvaratskhelia and myself to the peak of our careers, triumphing with a club that had failed to do so for decades. It has a lot of expectations, but it also gives you so much. Certain coaches help you grow first as a person and then as a footballer.” concluded Galatasaray's top scorer.
