'They treated me like a dog' — Osimhen opens up on moment of no return at Napoli

Victor Osimhen has finally lifted the lid on his controversial departure from Napoli in 2024.

Osimhen went from hero to villain at Napoli in 2024 through no fault of his own, as tensions with the club escalated dramatically following his pivotal role in their 2022-23 Serie A title win.

In an explosive pre-match interview ahead of Galatasaray's UEFA Champions League knockout play-off first leg against Juventus, the Nigerian striker detailed the "moment of no return" that soured his relationship with the Partenopei.

"We had a gentleman's agreement that I could leave the following summer, but the other side did not fully honour that commitment," Osimhen revealed via Fanatik.

"They sent me everywhere to play, and 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 that kind of treatment. I'm not a puppet."

The breaking point, he explained, traced back to a Napoli TikTok video that mocked his missed penalty against Bologna in September 2023, sparking racist abuse from fans.

"After the club’s TikTok, everything changed. I was insulted, and no one ever apologised. I was a victim of racist insults: they treated me like a dog! I'm not a puppet."

Osimhen expressed sympathy for Napoli supporters affected by the fallout, recounting fans visiting his home demanding explanations.

"I feel sorry for the Napoli fans... Some of them came to my house and demanded an explanation. We talked, and I asked them to put themselves in my shoes."

He later deleted Napoli-related photos from his Instagram, further fueling the divide.

Despite the bitterness toward the club hierarchy, Osimhen spoke warmly of former coach Luciano Spalletti, denying any real feud: "People said we argued, but it wasn’t true. I respect him so much."

Osimhen has since gone on to thrive in Turkey, leading Galatasaray to a league and cup double in his first season, and a potential deep run in the UEFA Champions League this term.