All eyes were on Victor Osimhen in Napoli’s evening clash with Udinese and the star striker responded on the pitch.
Tensions initially boiled over after the 24-year-old was taken off the pitch by Rudi Garcia in the Partenopei’s draw with Bologna, where he missed a penalty. He reacted furiously to the decision and made his feelings apparent to the French coach on the touchline.
Things went from bad to worse for Osimhen after Napoli’s official TikTok posted two videos mocking him, the first making fun of his missed penalty and the second comparing him to a coconut. The striker was enraged and his agent Roberto Calenda threatened legal action.
Osimhen was given a round of applause from the Napoli fans at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona before kick-off and started the clash against Udinese.
The club were awarded a penalty in the first half and rather than taking it himself, the Nigerian striker offered it to Piotr Zielinski, who promptly put the ball in the back of the net.
Osimhen’s kindness was rewarded in the 39th minute when his quick feet helped him double Napoli’s lead over Udinese. He celebrated by running to the bench to hug new signing Jesper Lindstrom, ignoring Garcia.
In the 63rd minute, with the team 2-0 up, he was taken off the pitch and replaced by Giovanni Simeone.