Osimhen denies punching journalist, plans legal action

Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen says he plans to take legal action against Turkish journalist Tolga Bozduman in the wake of an altercation last week, which led to accusations of physical assault by the striker.

Bozduman had accused the Galatasaray striker of assaulting him after the club's 3-3 draw with Dinamo Kyiv. The Posta journalist claimed he was taking pictures along with other journalists when the 26-year-old became infuriated and hit him outside a nightclub.

Describing the altercation, per Turkish publication Posta, Bozduman said, "As soon as the flashes went off, he started shouting and ran at me. He tried to grab my camera, but I held on to it. Then he punched me in the head. The right side of my head is still in pain."

Osimhen is also alleged to have offered money to the journalists to delete the pictures, and when his offer was refused, he allegedly issued threats, saying, "if these images are released, I will ruin you."

Osimhen, however denied the allegations, saying the incident happened in front of a restaurant where he and a few friends, including fellow Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo had gone to have a meal.

"I was never at a night club," he told Turkish journalist Enes Cevahirci. "Me and my friends went to an African restaurant for dinner. We were done and went outside to look at my friend's brand new car.

"I was coming back to go into my van and these guys just popped out from nowhere and put a camera in my face. I was shocked. I was asking them what is the problem, why do you pop out the camera in front of my face?

"They said they are paparazzi. [I said] Okay what do you want? They didn't say anything, just popped the camera in my face. And then my friends went to meet them and said you can't do that. If you're professional, you have to come if you want to ask for (an) interview."

The Nigerian denied hitting the journalist, saying he only asked the journalists to delete the pictures: "I never punched this guy, I never hit him, I went to him and told him you have to take the picture down, you have to delete it. It's my picture, I have every right to tell him to take it down."

Nigeria defender Omeruo, who was also present during the altercation, backed up Osimhen's version of events saying, "Of course he didn't touch him. I was there."

Osimhen, who has scored 16 goals so far with five assists for Galatasaray and is one of the most sought after strikers in world football, suggested he will take legal action.

He said: "I am not new to this type of thing. I knew they were going to lie and lie and lie. This is a case of violence, and he came out to lie. But of course, it is not going to be an easy one.

"I don't need to shout, but I will take the necessary steps to make sure. If I hit him, he is going to get justice. If he lied, then he is going to see the wrath of the law."