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    Victor Osimhen releases emotional statement as he finally breaks silence after being mocked by Napoli’s official TikTok

    VICTOR OSIMHEN has broken his silence after being the subject of mockery from Napoli’s TikTok account.He was derided for missing a penalty before being labelled a “coconut” – widely viewed as a racial slur.
    Victor Osimhen called for unity after the TikTok sagaCredit: Getty
    His agent threatened to sue the club – Napoli responded by stating no offence was intended.
    Osimhen has now spoken out by calling for unity while thanking fans for the love and kindness they have shown him.
    A statement read: “Coming to the city of Naples in 2020 was a wonderful decision for me. The people of Napoli have shown me so much love and kindness, and I will not allow anyone to come between us”.
    “The passion of the people of Naples fuels my fire to always play with my heart and soul, and the love for the badge is unwavering as I wear it with pride”.
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    “The accusations against people of Naples are untrue. I have a lot of friends that are Napolitans and have become part of my family and everyday life. I appreciate Nigerians and everyone for leading their voices to support and reach out to me”.
    “I’m forever grateful. Let’s support unity, respect and understanding. FORZA NAPOLI SEMPRE ⚪️🔵”
    Osimhen, 24, initially reacted by deleting all but one reference to Napoli on his social media account.
    He also refused to take a penalty against Udinese in mid-week and was benched against Lecce on Saturday.
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    But it appears he has agreed with the club to put the saga behind them, with Napoli social media executive Alessio Fortino departing the club for his role in the controversy. More

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    Napoli social media executive QUITS after Victor Osimhen mocked in two separate TikTok videos

    NAPOLI’S social media executive has quit after Victor Osimhen was mocked in two separate club TikTok videos.The striker was ridiculed for missing a penalty against Bologna before being called a “coconut” – widely viewed as a racial slur.
    Victor Osimhen was the subject of mockery from the Napoli’s TikTok accountCredit: Reuters
    Napoli added the caption “Gimme penalty please” to his spot-kick miss, plus a whining voice-over appearing to make fun of the ex-Lille star.
    Osimhen’s agent responded by threatening to sue the club, while the Nigerian refused to take a penalty against Udinese in mid-week.
    Napoli responded by stating no offence was intended but social media executive Alessio Fortino has now left the club.
    Fortino announced the news on Instagram, writing in a short statement: “Today, after 805 days, my professional adventure with Napoli ends.
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    “For many this job would be comparable to a dream, for me it was simple daily reality: a reality built on commitment and fueled by the constant desire to learn and play.
    “I cannot help but express my deepest gratitude to all the colleagues, collaborators, partners and supporters I’ve met along this long journey for making this experience so special.
    “Leaving the company with a baggage of great memories and an excitement for the new adventures that lie ahead.
    “Thanks again for everything and see you soon! Alessio’.”
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    Osimhen was benched against Lecce on Saturday but scored in a substitute appearance.
    Napoli boss Rudi Garcia claimed he was rested, rather than dropped, but the TikTok controversy has sparked speculation Osimhen could leave the club.
    Osimhen has since released a statement – breaking his silence on the matter. More

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    Reason why Chelsea transfer bid for top striker collapsed revealed by Juventus with Blues even offering Lukaku in swap

    THE reason behind Chelsea’s failed attempt to buy Dusan Vlahovic has been revealed. The Blues submitted a bid to Juventus to try and land Vlahovic in the summer.
    Chelsea saw an offer for Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic rejected in the summerCredit: EPA
    The Blues have spent more than £1billion on transfers since Todd Boehly bought the clubCredit: Rex
    It even saw them offer Romelu Lukaku as a part exchange.
    However, the deal fell through with Lukaku eventually joining Roma on loan and Vlahovic remaining in Italy.
    The reason for the failed bid has now been revealed by Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.
    Speaking to La Repubblica, he said: “There was an offer from Chelsea for Vlahovic.
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    “We didn’t want to sell Dusan, but given certain numbers we would have accepted.
    “Chelsea never reached that figure, and the exchange [with Lukaku] never took place.”
    Mauricio Pochettino’s side have been plagued by a lack of clinical finishing this season.
    They have scored just five Premier League goals, three of which came against newly-promoted Luton.
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    Meanwhile, Vlahovic has scored four goals in the Serie A.
    Having already spent more than £1billion on transfers under Todd Boehly, Chelsea have been linked with moves for both Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window. More

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    Napoli striker Victor Osimhen BENCHED for Serie A clash amid TikTok mocking storm… but comes on to score in Lecce win

    NAPOLI benched Victor Osimhen against Lecce amid the controversial TikTok mocking of the striker.But he came off the bench to score with the Serie A champions winning 4-0 away from home.
    Victor Osimhen scored after coming off the benchCredit: Reuters
    Osimhen was subject to mockery from his own club as Napoli’s social media team called him a “coconut” in a TikTok video – widely seen as a racial slur.
    They taunted the Nigerian after he missed a penalty against Bologna – leading his agent to threaten legal action against the club.
    Osimhen then refused to take a penalty against Udinese and did not celebrate after scoring in the clash.
    Napoli boss Rudi Garcia decided to drop the forward against Lecce but insisted it was not because of the ongoing controversy.
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    He told DAZN: “There has to be squad rotation, it is almost a third of the team that changed since the game with Udinese, so it’s natural to look to everyone, including those who come off the bench.
    “The extra-sport issue is not important, I prefer to talk about what happens on the field and Osimhen has scored four goals in six games. The rest will take care of itself.”
    Napoli responded to the threats of legal action by stating “no offence was intended” and the bizarre clips were meant to be “light-hearted”.
    A statement read: “Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club.
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    “As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.
    “Social media, in particular TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.
    “In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.” More

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    Jose Mourinho turned down ‘biggest, most important & craziest offer in history’ as he says: I’m not the problem at Roma

    JOSE MOURINHO has hit back at suggestions he is the cause of Roma’s shaky start to the season and revealed he turned down the “craziest offer in the history of football”.The former Manchester United and Chelsea manager has endured a tough start to the season with Roma.
    Jose Mourinho has had a difficult start to the season with RomaCredit: Getty
    Mourinho said ‘I’m not a problem’ amid Roma’s troublesCredit: Getty
    Their last match saw them fall to a 4-1 defeat away at Genoa. The game before that saw them draw 1-1 with Torino.
    A remarkable 7-0 win against Empoli remains Roma’s only win of the Serie A season ahead of Sunday’s clash against Frosinone.
    This poor run sees them languishing down in 16th in the table, already eight points behind the top four.
    However, Mourinho was in a defiant mood in his pre-match press conference and reaffirmed his commitment to the Giallorossi by referencing job offers he got from Saudi Arabia in the summer.
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    He said: “Would I renew now? It’s a hypothetical situation, I can’t answer.
    “What I can say is that three months ago there was almost a drama to think that I could leave.
    “In Budapest on the pitch I told the players that I would stay, after Spezia I reiterated it to the fans, two-three days later I gave my word to Mr. Friedkin.
    “In the summer I had the biggest, most important and craziest job offer a coach has ever had in the history of football: I turned it down because of my word.
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    “Now it seems that I am a problem, I do not accept it. I don’t accept it because it’s not true, I’m not a problem.”
    Mourinho revealed in August he had received offers from Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli, but turned down both because he wanted to remain at Roma.
    The Portuguese boss has remained incensed about Roma’s defeat in the Europa League final last season – and Mourinho’s first-ever European final defeat.
    After the match he waited in the car park for referee Anthony Taylor before calling him a “f***ing disgrace”. More

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    Man Utd ‘already lining up stunning £52m transfer for top winger to replace for Jadon Sancho in January’

    MANCHESTER UNITED are lining up Juventus star Federico Chiesa as a replacement for Jadon Sancho, according to reports.The Red Devils are on the hunt for a winger in January with boss Erik ten Hag having exiled Sancho.
    Federico Chiesa is reportedly on Man United’s wishlistCredit: Rex
    The Red Devils are seeking a replacement for Jadon SanchoCredit: Getty
    Chiesa, 25, could fit the bill and his contract is set to expire in 2025.
    According to Calciomercato, United want to agree a deal for Chiesa in January to bolster their wide options.
    Juve are expected to demand a fee in excess of £52million for the Italian international.
    Chiesa currently earns around £80,000 a week in Turin.
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    His club are hoping to agree a one-year extension on similar money in upcoming weeks, before sitting down for more long-term talks.
    The Euro 2020 winner struggled to recapture his best form after returning from a serious knee injury last season.
    But he has looked more himself this term, scoring four goals and laying on an assist in his first six appearances.
    Meetings are set to take place between Juventus chiefs and Chiesa’s agent Fali Ramadani in the coming weeks.
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    Sancho, meanwhile, doesn’t look likely to return to contention at Old Trafford any time soon.
    He has not featured since August, having been initially dropped for his side’s trip to Arsenal on September 3 for what Ten Hag claimed were poor performances in training.

    The 23-year-old subsequently refuted his manager’s claim, and said that he was being made a “scapegoat”.
    Sancho has since reportedly been banned from all first team facilities, including the canteen.
    Ten Hag, 53, will not entertain the idea of re-integrating the former Borussia Dortmund star until he apologises.
    Dortmund are among the teams interested in signing Sancho in January.
    While Serie A strugglers Roma are also believed to be keen.
    Sancho, 23, has been banished from Man United’s first team squadCredit: Getty More

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    ‘Curse’ which has plagued Jose Mourinho at EVERY club appears to strike again as Roma battle relegation

    PRESSURE is piling on Jose Mourinho with Roma having endured a shocking start to the season.The Serie A side slumped to an abject 4-1 defeat at Genoa last night, leaving them 16th in the table.
    Jose Mourinho has overseen a dreadful start for RomaCredit: EPA
    At Chelsea and Manchester United, the 60-year-old saw things fall apart in his third campaign in charge.
    He was sacked from both jobs amid reports of dressing room unrest and shocking form on the pitch.
    In his last position at Tottenham he didn’t even make it to his third campaign, being axed in April 2021 following an awful run.
    Roma began this season with an underwhelming 2-2 draw at home to Salernitana, before losing back to back matches against Verona and AC Milan.
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    Bizarrely they then thumped Empoli 7-0, before drawing 1-1 at Torino and being well beaten by Genoa last night.
    After his side’s latest humbling result, Mourinho admitted that he is enduring his worst ever start to a season – but tried to deflect from Roma’s poor results.
    He said: “It’s also my worst start to a season as a coach.
    “However I don’t think that Roma had ever appeared in two consecutive European finals.”
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    Roma are languishing in 16th in the Serie A table
    Mourinho then blamed his squad for his side’s malaise, adding: “When we’re missing certain players, we lack solidity.
    “However, to state that our weakening of solidity is the result of the absence of this or that player wouldn’t be correct.
    “Our lack of defensive stability is down to the team as a whole – what happens when we lose possession and when we drop deeper.”

    Roma next face Frosinone this weekend and taking a further dig at his players, Mourinho continued: “This is the squad we have, for better and worse. We have to move forward – there’s no time to lament.
    “I might show my feelings behind the scenes because it really affects me emotionally, especially given my relationship with the fans.
    “We’ll be working hard from tomorrow ahead of our next game. Three points will be at stake – it’s not like we’re in six-pointer territory already – but it’s a huge game for us now.”
    Mourinho earns £10million a year at Roma, a salary only bettered by Juventus’ Massimiliano Allegri among Serie A managers.
    The Portuguese has failed to qualify for the Champions League in his two full seasons at the helm – finishing sixth on both occasions.
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    In the 2021-22 campaign Roma lifted the inaugural Europa Conference League, won by West Ham the following campaign.
    They were then beaten by Sevilla in last season’s Europa League final.
    Roma are yet to qualify for the Champions League under MourinhoCredit: EPA More

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    Napoli break silence on offensive Victor Osimhen TikTok video after striker’s agent threatens legal action

    NAPOLI have finally broken their silence on the now-deleted videos shared by the club’s official TikTok account mocking Victor Osimhen.Earlier this week, the Serie A champions posted two shocking clips, one mocking the Nigerian striker for missing a penalty and another branding him a “coconut” — widely viewed as a racial slur.
    Napoli have released a statement after Victor Osimhen was mocked in two videos on the club’s official TikTokCredit: Rex
    Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda was quick to release a statement threatening legal action.
    But now Napoli have finally broken their silence on the situation – saying “no offence was intended” and the bizarre clips were meant to be “light-hearted”.
    A statement read: “Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club.
    “As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.
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    “Social media, in particular TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.
    “In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.”
    Osimhen played and scored in Wednesday night’s 4-1 win over Udinese – but refused to celebrate his goal.
    He was taken off penalty duties following his Bologna miss which was the subject of one of Napoli’s TikToks.
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    Earlier this week, Osimhen’s agent fumed: “We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor.
    “What happened on Napoli’s official profile is not acceptable.
    “A video mocking Victor was first made public and then belatedly deleted.
    “A serious fact that causes very serious damage to the player and adds to the treatment the boy is suffering.”
    Premier League clubs are now keen to capitalise on the unsettled forward’s situation in the January transfer window.
    Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are monitoring the situation.
    But European heavyweights Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested should Napoli be forced to sell their £150million-rated superstar. More