Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has opened up about feeling mistreated at Napoli before his move to Galatasaray, claiming he was “treated like a dog” despite earlier interest from Juventus. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Osimhen confirmed that Juventus, through then sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, tried to sign him in 2024 before he initially joined Galatasaray on loan—a deal that was later made permanent. “Yes, but I could have been at two other top Serie A clubs today,” he said. “[Giuntoli] called me to take me to Juve before negotiations with Galatasaray began. I spoke with a couple of people from the club. They showed interest, but I knew that [Napoli President] Aurelio De Laurentiis wouldn’t let me leave. In any case, the interest was definitely there. And when Juventus call, you sit down and listen.” Osimhen played a key role in Napoli’s 2022-23 Serie A title win, finishing as the league’s top scorer under Luciano Spalletti. However, relations between the striker and the club soured the following season. In September 2023, Napoli posted a TikTok video mocking Osimhen after he missed a penalty against Bologna. The Nigerian striker says the post marked a turning point. “After Napoli posted that video on TikTok, something broke. Anyone can miss a penalty, and anyone can be mocked for it. Napoli did it only to me, and with certain kinds of insinuations as well. I was the victim of racist insults, and I made my decision. I wanted to leave,” he said. Osimhen added that no public apology was ever made, dismissing rumours about disciplinary issues as “lies.” Although he signed a contract extension in December 2023, he revealed there was a gentleman’s agreement allowing him to leave the following summer, which he feels Napoli did not honour. “They tried to send me anywhere to play, but they treated me like a dog. Go here, go there, do this, do that. I worked so hard to build my career, and I couldn’t accept that kind of treatment. I’m not a puppet,” Osimhen said. He also revealed that incoming Napoli coach Antonio Conte wanted him to stay. “As soon as he arrived, Conte called me into his office and said he was aware of the situation but that, despite everything, he wanted me to stay. I said I would have liked to work with him, but I had already made my decision. I didn’t want to keep working in a place where I didn’t feel happy.” Now in his second season at Galatasaray, Osimhen says he has rediscovered his happiness in Istanbul. “I found a club and a city that I love. As soon as you arrive in Istanbul, you understand why anyone who has played here has fallen in love with the team and the people. I had never experienced anything like it,” he said. Osimhen will face familiar Italian opposition tonight as Galatasaray take on Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off.
