Super Eagles star shines as Mourinho, Gattuso act as peacemakers in brawl between Fenerbahce, Hajduk Split

Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel played for Fenerbahce in their second preseason friendly, a 1-0 loss to Hajduk Split on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng reports.

However, the friendly match between Fenerbahce and Hajduk Split saw tempers flare, resulting in a brawl during the encounter.

Managers Jose Mourinho of Fenerbahce and Gennaro Gattuso of Hajduk Split had to step in to separate their players following the fight.

The match featured Nigerian international Bright Osayi-Samuel, who had an impressive performance for Fenerbahce.

Despite his efforts, the Croatian side, led by Gattuso, won with a goal scored by 16-year-old Bruno Durdov in the 85th minute.

The game turned sour when a brawl broke out in the first half.

Video footage shows Gattuso, visibly angry, pushing his players away from a confrontation with Fenerbahce players. At the same time, Mourinho is seen urging his team to calm down.

Fenerbahçe-Hajduk Split hazırlık maçında oyuncular arasında kavga çıktı!#Fenerbahçe #HajdukSplit #Djiku pic.twitter.com/KH2N054s4c— SPORBORD (@sporbord) July 10, 2024

Osayi-Samuel stood out in the game, playing for 71 minutes. He completed the most dribbles, won the most duels, and had a 91% pass accuracy. The Nigerian winger also won two tackles and made three recoveries, highlighting his immense talent and work rate on the pitch.

The incident occurred just a month after Gattuso joined Hajduk Split and Mourinho signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahce. Both managers, known for their passionate personalities, will look to channel their players’ energy more positively in the future.

For Mourinho, this heated friendly is a setback as he seeks his first win with Fenerbahce. Osayi-Samuel also played 70 minutes in Fenerbahce’s first preseason friendly, a 1-1 draw with Admira Wacker on July 6.