Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel has backed his former manager Jose Mourinho to lead Fenerbahce to Super Lig glory at the expense of compatriot Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray in the 25/26 season, Footynaija.com reports.
Osayi-Samuel recently joined Birmingham City in the second tier of English football on a free transfer after bringing an end to his four-year spell at Fenerbahce.
He spent his final season in Istanbul under the tutelage of Mourinho and the Portuguese boss, like he has done with most players throughout his illustrious managerial career, left a huge impact on the Nigeria international.
“For me he was a great coach. It felt like he was the mandem. Before the game he would give us so many stories about his family and stuff,” Osayi-Samuel told Birmingham live.
“It’s not just football, he wants to know how you’re doing away from football. He was a good coach for me, I enjoyed being there with him.”
Osayi-Samuel also backed his former manager and club to beat Galatasaray to the Super Lig crown despite the Turkish champions’ recent re-acquisition of his prolific Super Eagles teammate Osimhen.
“It’s difficult in Turkey with the pressure of not winning and I feel like we were unlucky last year. With his experience, in his second year in Turkey, I feel he will now win the league there.”
While it promises to be an exciting battle for supremacy between the two Istanbul giants, Osayi-Samuel’s full focus must now turn to Birmingham City’s aspirations of securing Premier League promotion by the end of the 25/26 season.
Having only just gained promotion from League One, the Blues will kick off their quest for back-to-back promotions on Friday, August 8 when they take on an Ipswich Town side who will certainly be on a promotion quest of their own.