Napoli striker Victor Osimhen's 'wink' to Barcelona after TikTok dispute

Victor Osimhen was one of the main architects of Napoli lifting the Scudetto again 33 years after they did so with Diego Maradona at the helm.

The Nigerian contributed 26 goals and five assists, a tally that was supplemented by another five goals in the Champions League, where they crashed out against Milan in the quarter-finals.

His excellent performances have attracted the attention of the European giants, who tried to sign him this summer. PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern, Arsenal and Manchester United all approached Azzurri president Aurelio de Laurentiis with varying degrees of interest, but the renowned film producer withstood the pressure to keep his top star in the team.

Things have not started as the Italian champions had hoped this season, though, relegated to sixth place, four points behind leaders Inter and Milan after six games. And Osimhen's relationship with his new coach Rudi Garcia and the club is not at its best.

The striker did not take kindly to his coach's decision to replace him against Bologna, with the score at 0-0, in a match in which he also missed a penalty. And all it took was for Napoli to post a story on TikTok with the missed spot-kick for the Nigerian's representative, Roberto Calenda, to threaten legal action.

The waters have calmed down after the win over Udinese, in which Osimhen broke his drought, but the atmosphere is not the most favourable to negotiate a renewal with the Nigerian, whose contract expires in 2025. And in the midst of all this situation, the striker has made statements in which he places Barça in his order of preference.

"When I was young, my favourite team was Barça because of Samuel Eto'o. And it is still my favourite team", Osimhen said.

It is a declaration of intent not as forceful as the one made by Joao Félix to push through his departure from Atlético Madrid to Can Barça, but a wink that Barça, if their economic situation allows it, could try to take advantage of next summer.

The operation is almost utopian, as PSG could not convince Di Laurentiis. The Napoli president wanted up to €200 million and remained firm in his decision.

Barça's transfer policy over the last two seasons has focused on players who have shown their willingness to defend the Blaugrana shirt. Thus came Christensen, Kessie, Memphis, Aubameyang or this year Iñigo Martínez, who waited patiently to be released, or Lewandowski, Gündogan, Joo Félix or Cancelo, who have bet everything on Barça. Will Osimhen be the next?