John Obi Mikel’s Decision to Join Chelsea Instead of Manchester United
John Obi Mikel, the former Chelsea player, recently shared an interesting story about his decision to reject a move to Manchester United and sign for Chelsea instead. This decision was made even after he had agreed to join United and even posed in their shirt for a photo.
A Sneaky Move
Mikel revealed that when he was just 17 years old and playing for Lyn in Oslo, United sent someone with a pre-contract for him to sign. The offer included a £1 million salary, which was a life-changing opportunity for him and his family. However, Mikel was already under the care of Chelsea, who had sent him to Lyn. When Chelsea found out about the pre-contract with United, they were not happy.
The Meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson
Mikel’s agent informed him about Chelsea and Roman Abramovich’s dissatisfaction with the situation. The next morning, they flew down to London to meet with Chelsea and finalize the deal. However, before that, Mikel had to face Sir Alex Ferguson in a meeting.
In the room with just the two of them, Mikel apologized to Ferguson and explained that he couldn’t play for United because it was a mistake. Ferguson tried to persuade him by highlighting United’s status as the biggest club in the world and even offered him more money if that was what he wanted. But Mikel stood firm and expressed his desire to join Chelsea.
The Final Decision
In the end, Mikel’s decision was made, and he signed for Chelsea. This move marked a turning point in his career, and he went on to have a successful stint with the club.
