The Nigerian striker has been in the eye of the storm the last few days, but his representative has called on critics to lay off.
Victor Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda admits that the Super Eagles attacker made a mistake by partying without following COVID-19 protocols. Still, he wants people to understand the context for the youngster’s breach.
Osimhen tested positive for Covid-19 after his trip to Lagos after manager Gennaro Gattuso allowed him to take the festive break even as he recovered from an injury that had kept him out of action for two months.
But a video surfaced online in the new year, showing the former Lille star broke social-distancing rules and partied with his family with no mask.
The development angered Napoli authorities and his club boss, Gattuso, resulting in Osimhen being fined two weeks’ wages, even as he self isolates as part of his recovery process from the coronavirus disease.
Osimhen has since apologised to the club, boss, and fans for his actions. But the 22-year-old striker’s agent has defended the youngster, insisting that Osimhen had been going through a difficult period’.
“He should not be accused of a family party,” Calenda told Il Mattino, as per the Daily Mail.
“He was naive, but you also need to know the context to get a complete picture of the issue.
“We are talking about a 22-year-old boy who has been through a difficult period in recent months.
“He was alone for a long time; he lost his father, and things got even worse with the injury. He hadn’t seen his family for months, and when he got home, they threw him a surprise party for his birthday.
“It’s OK to judge the mistake, but please don’t consider it as if he went to Ibiza to the disco. Having said that, he made a mistake and apologised to everyone.”
Osimhen, who sustained a shoulder injury against Sierra Leone during the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November, missed Napoli’s last seven matches of 2020.
The forward also missed the club’s first match of 2021 against Cagliari as he recovers from the virus.
He is likely to miss Napoli’s league games against Udinese and Spezia and their Italian Cup tie against Empoli.
