Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has finally revealed why he snubbed Manchester United and signed for Chelsea in 2006.
Mikel, who spent 11 trophy-laden years at Stamford Bridge after signing from Norwegian club, Lyn Oslo, disclosed that he joined Cheslea because the futures of three other Nigerian players were tied to the deal.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&us_privacy=1—&client=ca-pub-2427099653703778&output=html&h=300&adk=2141876619&adf=1192721092&pi=t.aa~a.1834861711~i.9~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1634212910&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=4779063894&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindaikejisblog.com%2F2021%2F10%2Fmikel-obi-finally-reveals-why-he-snubbed-manchester-united-for-chelsea.html&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=275&rw=330&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChEI8KqfiwYQ3NS32of_lKSmARJIAIutEAZi3q6gl6OdZHanUj9GQ-r_jBE12D3DadNRyvyG0FJW4-pyq6mU1ghr847f8ptWUoE5WM_bNsXLnwfZz7o4e1rgDXk7&uach=WyJBbmRyb2lkIiwiOSIsIiIsIkluZmluaXggWDY1MEIiLCI5Mi4wLjQ1MTUuMTE1IixbXSxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbF0.&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hdHRlc3RhdGlvbi5hbmRyb2lkLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo3fV0.&dt=1634212910043&bpp=26&bdt=7981&idt=-M&shv=r20211011&mjsv=m202110070201&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D6f62d75ac2f0c0c6-2251d019a8c80035%3AT%3D1622665487%3ART%3D1622665487%3AS%3DALNI_MZ85Ep3SvTaGfc8Juk8Onrd6Hwi6g&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300&nras=3&correlator=4979145458150&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1187515804.1622665486&ga_sid=1634212906&ga_hid=1075824270&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=3&u_h=800&u_w=360&u_ah=800&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&adx=0&ady=1146&biw=360&bih=616&scr_x=0&scr_y=415&eid=44751037%2C21067496&oid=2&pvsid=2046900450999668&pem=777&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindaikejisblog.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C616%2C360%2C616&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=1152&bc=31&jar=2021-10-14-06&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=XeT1Fvvj7N&p=https%3A//www.lindaikejisblog.com&dtd=553
Before his move to Chelsea,the midfieder first had an agreement in principle with Chelsea, but was tricked into penning a deal with Manchester United and had even spoken to Sir Alex Ferguson on the phone.
This led to a legal battle between Lyn Oslo, Man Utd and Chelsea, while FIFA also intervened.
At the end, Mikel eventually signed for Chelsea, who paid a compensation fee of £12m to Manchester United and £4m to Lyn.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&us_privacy=1—&client=ca-pub-2427099653703778&output=html&h=300&adk=2141876619&adf=464598135&pi=t.aa~a.1834861711~i.21~rp.4&w=360&lmt=1634212910&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=4779063894&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=360×300&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindaikejisblog.com%2F2021%2F10%2Fmikel-obi-finally-reveals-why-he-snubbed-manchester-united-for-chelsea.html&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=275&rw=330&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChEI8KqfiwYQ3NS32of_lKSmARJIAIutEAZi3q6gl6OdZHanUj9GQ-r_jBE12D3DadNRyvyG0FJW4-pyq6mU1ghr847f8ptWUoE5WM_bNsXLnwfZz7o4e1rgDXk7&uach=WyJBbmRyb2lkIiwiOSIsIiIsIkluZmluaXggWDY1MEIiLCI5Mi4wLjQ1MTUuMTE1IixbXSxudWxsLG51bGwsbnVsbF0.&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hdHRlc3RhdGlvbi5hbmRyb2lkLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo3fV0.&dt=1634212910043&bpp=21&bdt=7981&idt=-M&shv=r20211011&mjsv=m202110070201&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D6f62d75ac2f0c0c6-2251d019a8c80035%3AT%3D1622665487%3ART%3D1622665487%3AS%3DALNI_MZ85Ep3SvTaGfc8Juk8Onrd6Hwi6g&prev_fmts=0x0%2C360x300%2C360x300&nras=4&correlator=4979145458150&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1187515804.1622665486&ga_sid=1634212906&ga_hid=1075824270&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=3&u_h=800&u_w=360&u_ah=800&u_aw=360&u_cd=24&adx=0&ady=1800&biw=360&bih=616&scr_x=0&scr_y=415&eid=44751037%2C21067496&oid=2&pvsid=2046900450999668&pem=777&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lindaikejisblog.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C360%2C0%2C360%2C616%2C360%2C616&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=1152&bc=31&jar=2021-10-14-06&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=dv5Uh3tVZI&p=https%3A//www.lindaikejisblog.com&dtd=622
During that period, three of Mikel Obi’s teammates at U-20 level, Chinedu Obasi, Emmanuel Sarki and Ezekiel Bala, were also undergoing trials at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel Obi, who currently plays for Kuwait SC, told The Athletic: “When I chose Chelsea, it wasn’t just my life that changed.
“There were four lives that changed. Why? Because if I didn’t, Chelsea might not have anything to do with my three friends. I was close to them. I knew their families.
“I didn’t just make the decision for myself. I thought about them, I thought about their families. This gave them more of a chance.”
