Arsenal legend Thierry Henry brands Victor Osimhen’s Napoli video as racist and not a joke.
It’s racist – Arsenal legend Thierry Henry brands Victor Osimhen’s Napoli video as racist and not a joke.
In recent years Victor Osimhen has been among the finest in Europe, scoring a lot of goals for Napoli as they won the Serie A.
The Nigerian international isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to do so as he now needs to play with a mask after sustaining several facial fractures.
After winning just four of their first seven Serie A games this season Napoli are currently third in an attempt to defend their title.
There are also rising tensions inside the organization following a TikTok video that went viral.
The forward’s contract at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium has just under two years left, and there has been no indication that it would be extended.
As a result of the TikTok video by the official Napoli account, the player’s entourage has expressed anger.
The striker has issued a statement regarding his present circumstances at Napoli and his future.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has now given a perspective on the controversy about Osimhen and Napoli.
He started in the pre-game conversation of CBS Sports that the video by Napoli was racist and could not understand why the club would do such a thing.
He said, It’s wrong on every level.
“I have to go back to what Jamie said and I answer to your question since you don’t like when I don’t answer your question.
“Now joking aside, I mean, what are we talking about?
“First and foremost, it’s your own team.
“That’s the, what, what’s the talk, talk, Tick, tick or whatever the name of that thing is tiktok, whatever this is, this is what you do to your own players.
“Second, what is this first and foremost?
“Second of all, third of all and everything, then yes, it is. Do your due diligence don’t get upset.
“And by the way, so you, you, you made, it’s not a reaction, you made a video so it’s not a reaction that is still stupid and shocking, but it’s not the reaction you, you thought about it.
“That’s what I’m saying. This is what you’re creating your own player first and foremost and yes, it is.
“Yes, it is racist. What are you doing?”
This is not the first time Henry would get involved in an issue involving a Nigerian player.
At the Champions League final, Henry asked Nigerian afrobeats star Burna Boy to choose between Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanua and Jay-Jay Okocha.
Osimhen returned to action for Napoli against Real Madrid in a 3-2 Champions League loss.
Osimhen after the statement returned to the pitch for Napoli’s first home game against Real Madrid.
The Nigerian striker featured for 90 minutes but could not find the back of the net.
Reactions to Napoli and Osimhen controversy
Nigerian football fans in particular did not appreciate Napoli’s TikTok video and thought it disrespectful that an official account was responsible for such activities.
Minister of Sports Owan Enoh is now the latest to get involved in the saga between Osimhen and his club Napoli.
According to Owan Enoh, he has reached out to the Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the Nigerian ambassador to Italy.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria’s official social media platforms also responded to the video by Napoli.
The Super Eagles account responded by posting a compilation of Osimhen’s penalty goals for the Super Eagles.
La Liga side Cadiz put out a photo of the Super Eagles star on their official social media platforms.
Osimhen returns to action when Napoli takes on Fiorentina in a Serie A fixture scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2023.