Victor Osimhen's agent has threatened legal action against Napoli after a video was published on the club's official social media mocking the Nigeria striker for missing a penalty in the weekend's goalless draw at Bologna.
The TikTok post, which was subsequently deleted, showed Osimhen failing to score his spot-kick in the Serie A match with a high-pitched voice saying "gimme penalty please", sparking a furious reaction from Roberto Calenda.
🇳🇬 This was the original video posted by Napoli about Victor Osimhen… and then deleted.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 26, 2023
⚠️ …player’s agent Calenda announced that Osimhen is considering to take legal action against Napoli. pic.twitter.com/0PLunco9aD
"What happened today on Napoli's official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable. A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted," Calenda said on Twitter, now called X, late on Tuesday evening.
"(It is) A serious fact that causes very serious damage to the player and adds to the treatment that the boy is suffering in the last period between media trials and fake news.
"We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor."
Osimhen has struggled in the opening weeks of the season for misfiring Italian champions Napoli but has stilled netted three times in six appearances.
The 24-year-old has become an icon in Naples after scoring 31 times in all competitions last season as Napoli won their first league title since 1990.
Osimhen, who was a target for Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer, is in the process of negotiating a contract extension with Napoli, with his current deal expiring in June 2025.
He was signed by Napoli from Lille for an initial 70 million euros just over three years ago, a transfer which is being investigated by Italian authorities.
On Tuesday Italian media reported that Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis is among those being investigated by prosecutors in Rome for allegedly falsely inflating the value of the transfer with four players sold to Lille as part of the deal.
Napoli are seventh in Serie A, seven points behind league leaders Inter Milan after winning just two of their opening five domestic matches.
Rudi Garcia's side host Udinese on Wednesday before travelling to Lecce on Saturday and then welcoming Real Madrid to Naples on Tuesday night.