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John Obi Mikel reveals career transfer tussle with his family
By Monsurah Olatunji
Former Nigeria international Mikel Obi has revealed that he was caught at the crossroads during the transfer tussle between Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Nigerian was highly expected to join the Red Devils in 2006 with pictures of him in the shirt already making rounds on the internet but surprisingly, it was Chelsea that unveiled him.
The former Blue midfielder went on to win the Premier League title, four FA Cups, a Champions League trophy, and a UEFA Europa League, with the club. But despite his stellar career he never won the prestigious CAF Player of the Year award.
Reminiscing on his career, Mikel revealed the tussle he faced to make the decision contrary to his family’s opinion.
“Of course, the biggest club back then was obviously Manchester United and every kid you speak to growing up wants to play for Manchester United,” he said on his ObiOne Podcast.
“This young new vibrant manager just coming to the Premier League, Jose Mourinho, the Special One, managing Chelsea and has won the league back-to-back, and then you’re sitting there thinking, ‘should I play for the biggest manager in the world Sir Alex Ferguson or should I join a new vibrant manager?’
“I had to make that decision. For me, it was not an easy decision because you have family members saying, ‘What are you doing, go to Manchester United’.
“You have your friends saying ‘Go to Manchester United, they are the biggest club in the world. You are going to become the first Nigerian player to play for Manchester United’.
“For me to make that decision of going to Chelsea was a massive decision. I was saying this is my decision I’m going to live with, I’m going to go with this and it paid out really well.”
