Napoli send Chelsea clear Victor Osimhen message after controversial video sparks transfer hope

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has insisted that Victor Osimhen's future is 'not up for discussion'. The 24-year-old striker has been heavily linked with an exit from the Italian giants recently after the club posted a controversial video on TikTok last month.

The video, which appeared to mock Osimhen, was posted on social media just days after he missed a penalty during the Napoli's clash against Bologna. The Serie A outfit later released a statement insisting that they 'did not intend to cause offence' to the Nigeria international.

«Napoli, in order to avoid any exploitation on the topic, specifies that it never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen, the club's technical asset,» a statement from the club read. «To demonstrate this, during the summer training camp, the club firmly rejected every offer received for the striker’s transfer abroad.

»It is a common experience that on social media, in particular on TikTok, expressive language has always been created with lightness and creativity, without having had, in the case involving Osimhen, any intention of mockery or derision. However, if Victor had perceived any offense towards him, that is not what the club intended."

Following Napoli's game against Udinese a couple of days later, Rudi Garcia played down speculation that Osimhen faces an uncertain future in Naples despite the off-field controversy. As quoted by Football Italia, the Napoli boss said: «I have had a very good rapport with Victor since the moment I arrived.

»I am happy because he scored a goal and centre-forwards always want to score goals. In Bologna we were all frustrated at not winning and he was even more after missing a penalty, so that can happen. We cleared the air, it all went back