Napoli’s social media executive has officially left the club in the wake of the Nigerian prolific striker Victor Osimhen TikTok scandal.
Alessio Fortino announced that he and Napoli have parted company after two and a half years working together.
It is not yet clear whether Fortino was sacked, resigned or left by mutual consent, but it can be assumed that his departure is in direct reference to the storm involving Osimhen.
The storm erupted after Osimhen missed a penalty that would have given Napoli a 1-0 win over Bologna last weekend.
The Serie A side sparked controversy this week when they posted videos on their Tik Tok account mocking striker Victor Osimhen, leading to his agent threatening to take legal action.
The first video posted showed the 24-year-old appealing for a penalty, with sped-up audio captioned ‘Gimme penalty please’ before showing him blazing the spot-kick wide of the post.
A second video from the club’s account, which has been circulated online and since deleted, compared Osimhen to a ‘coconut’ – widely viewed as a racial slur.
And now, in the wake of the saga, the club’s social media executive has left the club and confirmed the news via a post on his personal Instagram account.
Napoli refused to apologise for the videos, simply stating that there was no malice intended.
The player’s future is now in doubt as contract renewal talks to extend his deal that expires in 2025 were already making little progress.
Fortino had wrote on his Instagram page: “Today, after 805 days, my professional adventure with SSC Napoli comes to an end,.
“For many, this job would be a dream, for me, it was a daily reality. A reality built on commitment and fueled by the continuous desire to learn.
“I cannot help but express my profound gratitude to all my colleagues, collaborators, partners and the fans I met during this long journey for making this experience so special. I leave the company with a wealth of extraordinary memories and the enthusiasm for the new adventures that await me. Thanks again for everything and see you soon! Alessio.”
Fortino did not produce the two TikTok videos but it appears as if he has paid the ultimate price for them being published.