28 October 2023 , 19:09
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Victor Osimhen has played down suggestions that he wants to leave Napoli amid reported transfer interest from Liverpool.
The Reds recently sent scouts to watch Osimhen in action during the international break. The Nigerian has continued his fine form into this campaign with six goals in his ten appearances – but his relationship with the Italian champions has become frayed.
Osimhen had been 'considering taking legal action’ against the Italian champions after a bizarre video was posted late last month that appeared to make fun of the Nigerian international, following his penalty miss in a Serie A draw against Bologna.
That bizarre episode comes amid the backdrop of Osimhen – who was wanted by Manchester United, among other clubs this summer – not signing a new contract with the Neapolitans, with whom his current deal runs through to the summer of 2025.
There was concern that the relationship between the striker and the club had significantly soured and may indeed be at breaking point, with little indication that the former Lille frontman will back down from his position of not extending his stay in southern Italy.
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However, the striker has played down any suggestions of an imminent exit from Naples. "I am happy at Napoli," Osimhen explained in an interview on Twitch with former Italy internationals Emiliano Viviano and Mario Balotelli. "People don't know how difficult it is to play in Serie A. From a tactical and physical point of view, it's one of the most difficult leagues to play in."
The striker was then specifically asked if he would prefer, later in his career, to play either in MLS in the US or in Saudi Arabia, to which he replied: "If I had the same conditions, I would go to MLS."
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Osimhen's goals fired Napoli to their first Serie A title in 23 years last campaign (Getty Images)Osimhen helped propel Napoli to a first league title in over 30 years last time out with a standout campaign in which he netted 31 goals across all competitions. However, he was the target of a bizarre video posted from the club’s own social media accounts in October.
The video centred on an incident in the club’s scoreless draw against Bologna on Sunday, in which Osimhen spurned the opportunity to win the game from the penalty spot. That proved to be the game’s defining moment and was a rare miss from the Nigerian – who had scored six goals in all competitions this term.
Yet Napoli’s peculiar video focused on Osimhen appealing for the penalty, using a strange and rather unsettling sped-up voice – which appeared to have no context, other than to mock the striker for his attempts to persuade the decision to be given.