Balotelli Criticises Osimhen for Leaving Penalty Duties After TikTok Saga

Balotelli Criticises Osimhen for Leaving Penalty Duties After TikTok Saga

Raphael Abiola
updated at October 2, 2023 at 12:10 PM
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  • Mario Balotelli has faulted Victor Osimhen for leaving penalty duties at Napoli
  • The former Liverpool star is not happy with the Nigerian striker's decision after the TikTok saga
  • The Italian also aired his view on Osimhen's decision not to celebrate his goal against Udinese

Former Manchester City star, Mario Balotelli has criticised Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen after he left penalty duties due to the TikTok controversy he had with Napoli.

The Nigerian international was part of the goalscorers in Napoli's 4-1 win over Udinese in the Italian Serie A on Wednesday, September 27.

One of the highlights of the game was when Osimhen, who is Napoli’s penalty-kick taker, opted out when his team had a penalty in the match. The reason for his decision can be traced back to the ongoing issue he has with the club over a controversial TikTok video after he missed a penalty a previous match against Bologna.

Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen missed a penalty kick during the Serie A football match between Bologna FC and SSC Napoli. Photo: Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio.
Source: Getty Images

In an interview with TV Play, as per Owngoal Nigeria, Balotelli was not happy with the Nigerian striker's decision to leave penalty duties in the game against Udinese.

“Osimhen is a friend of mine, I greet him. But in the penalty miss against Udinese(Calcio), he disappointed me a bit. He should have kicked and not Zielinski,” he said.

The former Liverpool striker went further, speaking about the TikTok video posted by Napoli on their official account, and Osimhen's decision not to celebrate his goal against Udinese.

“That video is meaningless. Victor has a personality, there’s no denying that. The goal he scores is complicated, don’t think it’s easy. Didn’t he rejoice? He did well, he copies me,” he concluded.

Osimhen breaks silence after TikTok saga

Sports Brief earlier reported that Victor Osimhen spoke for the first the first time since the tussle involving him and Napoli over a malicious video trolling him was released on the club's official TikTok channel.

The Nigerian striker missed a decisive penalty for Napoli against Bologna, which could have earned the club all three points. A video was released on the club's official TikTok channel mocking the striker.

Osimhen has spoken for the first time about the incident via a statement published on his Instagram story.

Authors
Raphael Abiola photo
Raphael Abiola
Raphael Abiola is a Nigerian Sports Journalist with over five years of experience. He obtained a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2015.
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