Napoli, the Italian football club, has made headlines by announcing its intention to pursue legal action against a prominent Italian toy store for creating an unlicensed doll that strikingly resembles their star forward, Victor Osimhen.
The doll gained viral attention on social media due to its remarkable likeness to the Nigerian international footballer. It features several distinctive elements associated with Osimhen, including a protective mask adorned with the number 9, a light blue jersey reminiscent of Napoli’s team colors, and even a tuft of curly blond hair.
In response to this unauthorized product, Napoli released a statement expressing their disapproval: “With reference to the news…relating to the imminent marketing of a children’s game called ‘Cicciobello Bomber’ – a doll that reproduces the features of the player Victor Osimhen, portrayed wearing a uniform clearly referable to the shirt from the Club’s first team – the SSCN specifies that this is an unofficial product, the creation of which has not been authorized in any way by the Club.”
The statement further clarified that the club had taken necessary steps to safeguard its interests and address this matter legally.
The controversy surrounding Osimhen extends beyond this doll incident. He has recently been involved in a TikTok video dispute with Napoli, and there are doubts about the extension of his contract with the Serie A champions. The relationship between Osimhen and the club appears to be strained despite his performance, having scored five goals in nine appearances across all competitions for Napoli this season.
This legal action taken by Napoli serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting intellectual property and the image rights of athletes. It highlights the club’s commitment to safeguarding its brand and assets in the face of unauthorized merchandise bearing their player’s likeness.
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