Despite an initial agreement between the two parties, the move for Nigerian international and versatile defender Bright Osayi-Samuel to Turkish outfit Besiktas is now on the verge of collapse, Footy-Africa can exclusively confirm.
Osayi-Samuel and Besiktas had reached a three-year agreement in principle, under which the player was set to earn €1.9 million per season. However, the player’s manager—who is also his father—demanded that the contract be extended to four years and that his son’s annual salary be increased by €300,000, just before the signing was due to take place in Istanbul.
Dismayed by the last-minute demands, Besiktas president Serdal Adalı rejected the request, according to an exclusive source at Osayi-Samuel’s agency, Triple S Sports. The president reportedly insisted that the deal would only go through on the originally agreed terms. It is worth noting that the player is set to become a free agent within hours and is not expected to extend his stay at Fenerbahce.
“The deal to Besiktas is almost off after Bright’s (Osayi-Samuel’s) father made a sudden turnaround with outrageous demands. The first agreement was a three-year deal with a €1.9 million salary, but he changed it to a four-year contract worth €2.2 million per year. The club president (Serdal Adalı) has suspended the move unless the original agreement is honoured. At the moment, the chances of the deal going through are very minimal,” the source exclusively told Footy-Africa.
In the recently concluded campaign at Fenerbahce, Osayi-Samuel made 39 appearances across the Turkish Super Lig, Turkish Cup, and Europa League. Over his five-year stint at the club, he played in 178 matches, scoring seven goals and providing as many assists. He previously played for Queens Park Rangers and Blackpool in England.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Birmingham City have emerged as the latest suitor for the right-back, joining Crystal Palace and Fulham, who had previously inquired about the player’s contract situation.
Internationally, the Nigerian—whose Transfermarkt valuation is currently estimated at €6.5 million—has earned 23 caps for the Super Eagles, making his debut in 2022.
