“I signed a pre-contract with Manchester United”- Former Chelsea star sheds light on controversial transfer

Mikel’s transfer to Chelsea is without doubt one of the most controversial offers to ever go down within the switch market, and he has shed some mild on it

Retired Tremendous Eagles midfielder Mikel Obi has revealed that Chelsea had been already caring for him and his household when he signed for Manchester United in 2005.

Mikel was one of many greatest merchandise from the 2005 Below-20 World Cup in Netherlands. Then working as an attacking midfielder, he was solely second to legendary Argentine Lionel Messi.

After the World Cup, the jostle for Mikel’s signature was a tricky one as numerous sides had been taken with signing him. Nevertheless, the 2 main groups within the combine had been Manchester United and Chelsea.

Manchester United unveiled Mikel, asserting that they’d signed him from Lyn Oslo, in a deal value £4million.

Nevertheless, Chelsea promptly revealed that they already had an settlement with Mikel and his representatives.

At first, Lyn Oslo denied it, however information later emerged that the membership did have an settlement in place with Chelsea and that Jose Mourinho, who was their supervisor was a fan of the participant.

Mikel has make clear the difficulty, revealing a few of the issues that occurred within the background whereas Manchester United and Chelsea had been preventing for his signature.

“I signed a pre-contract with Manchester United,” Mikel told Dubaieye per One Jobless boy.

“However earlier than that, I used to be dwelling in Norway and taking part in for Lyn Oslo and it was Chelsea that truly despatched me to Lyn Oslo.

“No person knew that I used to be there and Chelsea had been caring for me and my household, giving me bits right here and there, and so they had been paying my faculty charges.

“I had my trials with Manchester United earlier than I went to Chelsea. Ferguson cherished me, the gamers cherished me.

“Roy Keane was my greatest fan, he instructed the gaffer to signal me. He was my protector in coaching, at any time when Paul Scholes tackled me arduous, he all the time stood up for me.

“Then they heard that I had gone to Chelsea and Chelsea had taken me to Norway. Then Fergie flew to Norway and handed me a pre-contract.

‘He stated he was prepared to match something that Chelsea was providing me on the time.

“I used to be simply 17, and I used to be star-struck as a result of it was Fergie. So I signed the contract, then the entire thing went viral.

“Then Chelsea got here in. They had been ready for me to show 18 earlier than giving me an expert contract. Nonetheless, I finally signed for them and I’ve no regrets.

Finally, Mikel’s transfer to Chelsea paid off. He gained the Champions League, two Premier League trophies, one Europa League, 4 FA Cups, and two League Cups. The 35-year-old retired from soccer in September 2022.