By Can Erozden
Defending Italian champions Napoli said Thursday that they "never intended to offend or make fun of Victor Osimhen" as the club's offensive TikTok video sparked a crisis.
Osimhen “is an asset to the club," Napoli said in a statement that did not offer an apology.
Napoli said the 24-year-old Nigerian star is one of the main pillars of the team as the Naples club "rejected all offers" to keep him in the 2023 summer.
"On social media, and TikTok particularly, expressive language is used in a light-hearted and playful manner. In this case involving Victor there was no intention of mockery or derision.
"If Victor was in any way offended, this was not at all in the club's intentions," they added.
Osimhen helped Napoli win their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years.
He scored 26 league goals last season as Serie A's top scorer.
Osimhen, who have played for Napoli since 2020, deleted his photos and videos in a Napoli shirt on his Instagram account after a bizarre video posted from the club’s TikTok account.
The Nigerian international was mocked by a high-pitched-voice-dubbed clip mocking him for missing a penalty kick Sunday against Bologna.
The footage was later deleted.
Osimhen is reportedly considering taking legal action against the club.