Bright Osayi-Samuel: Family drama destroys Super Eagles star’s audacious Besiktas transfer

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For much of the summer, it appeared that Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel would be crossing enemy lines to sign with Besiktas.

The 27-year-old, whose contract with Fenerbahce expires at the end of June, rebuffed all attempts at a renewal, and looked set to join their city rivals. Per reports, both parties had agreed on a three-year contract, and the full-back was expected to come in for a medical on Saturday night. 

However, a startling last-minute request has thrown a spanner into the works, and has Besiktas ready to move on from Osayi-Samuel. “We have alternatives ready,” President Serdal Adali said, as reported by Milliyet.

Bright Osayi-Samuel: Family drama puts Super Eagles star’s audacious Besiktas transfer in jeopardy
Photo by IMAGO

Is Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Besiktas move dead?

With Besiktas waiting for the Nigeria international to turn up, they instead received a stunning request from the player’s father.

According to Turkish media, a salary between €1.7 and €1.9 million a year had been agreed with Osayi-Samuel but, at the last minute, his father demanded an additional €300,000 – it is unclear at this time whether this was on top of the base salary or in the form of performance bonuses.

“We have decided to stop the transfer due to the meaningless wishes of Osayi-Samuel's father, which changed at the last minute,” Adali said, and while he was reluctant to rule out a return to negotiations at the time, the latest reports suggest that Besiktas have indeed walked away from the deal, and are instead lining up moves for either of Kyle Walker-Peters or Nelson Semedo.

In a remarkable turn of events. Osayi-Samuel is now courting interest from EFL Championship side Birmingham City.

<!-- Author Start -->Solace Chukwu<!-- Author End -->

Solace Chukwu

Editor Site Coordinator

Solace Chukwu is one of Africa's foremost football columnists, with over a decade of experience working with various media outlets including Goal, Guardian UK, Pulse Sports and NewFrame News. While football is his first love, he also follows and comments on boxing and tennis.