Nearly 20 years on, John Obi Mikel’s 2006 transfer to Chelsea stays some of the controversial and protracted switch offers in Premier League historical past.
As a young person, the Nigerian midfielder had been tagged as one to look at, along with his performances on the 2003 Beneath-17 World Championship alerting Europe’s greatest golf equipment to his abilities. After shifting to Europe with Norwegian facet Lyn Oslo, the Premier League got here calling.
Manchester United introduced in April 2005 that they’d struck a deal to signal the 18-year-old, just for Chelsea to say they’d a deal in place, in a saga that took a 12 months to resolve and ended up with Mikel at Stamford Bridge.
John Obi Mikel on turning down Sir Alex Ferguson
Mikel went so far as posing with a Manchester United shirt and coaching with the Pink Devils earlier than finishing his transfer to Chelsea, however in the end he selected the London facet, which meant telling Sir Alex Ferguson he didn’t need to signal for him.
“Roman Abramovich was like, ‘There’s no method I’m letting this child go, I need him on the membership’, they usually fought tooth and nail to ensure I joined Chelsea, however Manchester United have been nonetheless not letting go,” Mikel recollects to FourFourTwo.
“Ultimately, when issues nonetheless weren’t resolved, Sir Alex Ferguson stated: “OK, I’ll have a gathering with the child – give me 20 or half-hour with him and I’ll get it sorted.” It was simply him and me in a room. My agent was exterior, and earlier than I went in, he advised me: “Look, he’s going to attempt, and this assembly determines what occurs, so when you come out of there and also you’ve stated sure to him, that’s a sure – however no matter he says, simply nod your head and say no.”
“That’s precisely what I did. I used to be sitting on the finish of this lengthy desk, just like the tables they’d throughout COVID for social distancing. Sir Alex was saying to me: “Pay attention, what’s it that Chelsea are providing you? Is it the cash? Inform me, I offers you extra. Everybody on the membership desires you, Roy Keane, Scholesy, they’re all asking after you, as a result of they want you, we want you on the membership, I’m going to make you the most effective participant.”
“I’d listened to what my agent had advised me beforehand, and I didn’t say a lot. I simply stated: “No, boss. I’m sorry, I simply need to go to Chelsea.” It was troublesome to say no to the best supervisor of all time, to take a seat there and say no to his face. Just a few gamers have ever stated no to Alex Ferguson. I feel Luis Figo may need been one other one. However I wished to go to Chelsea. Manchester United had received every part already. I wished to go someplace that I might create historical past.
“I might see Fergie getting redder and redder – I assumed ‘I’m going to get a hairdryer from him’. However there was no hairdryer. After 30 or 40 minutes, he realised he couldn’t persuade me and acquired up, took his briefcase and left. A couple of week later, Manchester United acquired in contact with Chelsea to say: “OK, we perceive the child has made his level clear, he doesn’t need to come to United any extra, however you must pay.” It was one thing like £12m to Manchester United and £4m to Lyn.
Mikel would go on to make 372 appearances for Chelsea and would go to take pleasure in spells at Middlesbrough and Stoke on his solution to being ranked at no.14 in FourFourTwo’s listing of the most effective African gamers in Premier League historical past. So what occurred when he caught up with Ferguson when the mud had settled?
“Final 12 months, I ran into Sir Alex on the Champions League last and we had a pleasant chat,” Mikel continues. “I stated hiya to him and he stated: “Oh, there he’s, the one which acquired away!” He remembered every part, however stated: “I’m not upset with you any extra, it’s up to now.” I requested: “Have you ever forgiven me, boss?” He stated sure, although we all know Fergie by no means forgives!”
Mikel was chatting with FFT in affiliation with streaming platform DAZN
