Former Napoli Official Counters Victor Osimhen's Racism Accusations
Mauro Meluso, the former sporting director of Napoli, has issued a firm denial in response to allegations made by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who claimed he faced racist treatment during his tenure at the Italian club. Meluso emphasized that the controversial TikTok video, which Osimhen cited as evidence of abuse, was intended as an ironic gesture rather than an offensive act, and he insisted that Napoli has a strong stance against all forms of racism.
Meluso's Defense Against Osimhen's Claims
In an interview with Radio Napoli Centrale, Meluso detailed the club's immediate response to the TikTok incident, stating that he and other officials worked to calm Osimhen down after the video's release. He described Osimhen's version of events as misleading and asserted that there was no racist intent behind the club's actions. Meluso highlighted Napoli's commitment to anti-racism principles, saying, "Woe betide anyone who would use racist language. Napoli rejects all forms of racism. The people of the city as well, I have great respect for Neapolitan fans."
The Impact of the TikTok Incident on Osimhen
Osimhen, now playing for Galatasaray, recently reignited the controversy by alleging in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport that Napoli treated him "like a dog" and failed to support him following the TikTok post, which occurred after a missed penalty. He claimed that racist undertones and broken promises from the Serie A club forced his departure in the summer of 2024. Despite scoring 76 goals in 133 matches and helping Napoli win their first Serie A title in 33 years in 2023, Osimhen said the incident caused significant emotional and professional damage.
Meluso acknowledged that the video had a deep personal effect on Osimhen, noting that it attracted media attention and intervention from a Nigerian government representative. However, he maintained that the situation was instrumentalized by others and that there was no malicious intent from the club. "That TikTok video affected him deeply, also because a Nigerian government representative intervened with strong statements. It had a media and personal impact," Meluso said. "For me, there was no intent to offend him, but someone instrumentalized the situation."
Osimhen's Departure from Napoli and Apology to Galatasaray
The fallout from the incident contributed to Osimhen's messy separation from Napoli, leading to his initial loan move to Galatasaray in 2024 and a subsequent permanent transfer after a successful season in Turkey. In a separate development, Osimhen recently apologized to Galatasaray for accidentally damaging the club's stadium ceiling during post-match celebrations, as shown in behind-the-scenes footage shared on social media. This apology was unrelated to the racism allegations but highlighted his ongoing activities with his new team.
This dispute underscores broader issues of racism in football and the complexities of player-club relationships, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives about the events that led to Osimhen's exit from Napoli.
