Just when you thought Napoli were on the come up...
This is a pretty remarkable situation that's completely self-inflicted. After Luciano Spalletti parted ways with the club following their first Scudetto triumph in 30 years, Napoli opted for the uninspiring appointment of Rudi Garcia.
But while Garcia has his own problems to solve on the pitch, the current issue surrounding star striker Victor Osimhen stems from social media idiocy.
Here's a breakdown of Napoli's TikTok antics which led to Osimhen deleting all Napoli-related pictures on his Instagram page.
Why has Victor Osimhen deleted all his Napoli pictures from Instagram?
There was not one, but two bizarre TikTok videos posted by Napoli's official account which have since been deleted. The first, which has gained much less publicity, compares last season's Capocannoniere to a coconut, while the second was posted after Osimhen missed a penalty in Napoli's 0-0 draw with Bologna at the weekend.
The clip featured a strange, baby-like voice narrating over the top of the striker's errant effort from 12 yards. It's almost cartoonish and just an incredibly weird thing to do given how significant the Nigerian was to Napoli's Serie A triumph last season.
In response, the player's agent, Roberto Calenda, wrote: "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.
"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."
Clearly upset and angry, Osimhen also decided to remove all Napoli-related content from his Instagram, while Calenda added that his client has the right to take "legal action" against his club.
Will the situation affect Victor Osimhen's Napoli future?
It certainly has the potential to do so, but not right away as Osimhen has been included in Napoli's matchday squad for their upcoming clash with Udinese.
However, there are already reports in the Italian media that the striker is becoming increasingly distant from signing a new contract with the club. His current deal expires in 2025, and Chelsea are one of several clubs monitoring his situation in Naples.
Osimhen thrived under Spalletti, scoring 31 goals in 39 games last season (26 in Serie A), but he's currently on a four-game barren run after netting three times in his first two appearances of the season. Napoli as a whole have endured a mixed start to their title defence, claiming eight points from their opening five games.
The striker's relationship with new manager Garcia also came under scrutiny after he was substituted at the weekend, with Osimhen seemingly encouraging his boss to deploy two strikers while he walked off the pitch in the 86th minute as Napoli searched for a winner.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Why Victor Osimhen deleted all his Napoli pictures from Instagram.
