JOHN OBI MIKEL has lifted the lid on the “surreal” transfer saga which saw Manchester United and Chelsea battle for his signature.
Back in April 2005, the Red Devils announced that they had reached an agreement with Norwegian side Lyn for the then 18-year-old midfielder, with the Nigerian pictured in a United shirt at a hastily arranged press conference.
Events were, however, to take a stunning twist as Mikel travelled to London to meet with Chelsea amid reports in Norway that he had been kidnapped.
With a fresh deal thrashed out with the Blues, a side then managed by Jose Mourinho ended up having to pay Premier League rivals United £12 million in compensation as Sir Alex Ferguson and a dominant force in English football at the time were left empty-handed.
“It was surreal,” Mikel told The Sun.
“I was at school, but had Chelsea and Manchester United, two of the world’s biggest clubs trying to sign me.
“I’ll never forget that second meeting with Sir Alex. I’d signed a deal at United but had to tell him: ‘Sorry, I want to play for Chelsea.’”
Mikel admits that Ferguson initially refused to accept his United snub and continued to fight for his services, but the midfielder had already taken the decision to favour Mourinho and Stamford Bridge.
He added: “He [Ferguson] really liked me but I could see how angry and disappointed he was.
“Some things he told me made me think about changing my mind but I was thinking about Jose, too.
“I had these two great managers wanting me and I did not know what to do.
Fergie told me: ‘Why would you turn down United? It’s the biggest club in the world. You cannot do that. You have to say ‘yes’.
“As a footballer, you have to make decisions that you live with for the rest of your life.”
Mikel saw his decision vindicated by a productive 11-year stint with Chelsea.
He made 374 appearances for the Blues, with those outings seeing him collect two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, the Europa League and Champions League.
Mikel eventually left west London in January, as he completed a switch to Chinese Super League side Tianjin TEDA, with the 30-year-old departing as a cult hero with his own piece of remarkable transfer history.
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Vindicated??? He was no more then a squad player after Mourinho left FIRST time round , yes he picked up medals but would have done so at United too,when Mourinho returned he had other qualities to call on so 7/8 seasons were bench warmers.
Cult hero at Chelsea? Really?
Michael Ballack turned down United in 2007 as well as he thought all the trophies would be going to Chelsea from the. On… Beaten by United in the 2008 champions league final…owch!
@Paul Friday Shannon: ballack hit the bar in that game drogba sent off terrys slip lampard hit the bar aswell I’m sure, I’ve always thought that God himself had a fiver on united for that one!! Cause they were mosy definitely blessed to win that game, I’m obviously still not fully over it lol.
@Philip Mc dermott: haha fair play lad. There were a lot of heart stopping moments for United fans for sure.
@Philip Mc dermott: first half of that game could of been 2-0 to Utd and vice verse for the second half.
@Philip Mc dermott: you need luck to win those finals, Chelsea had it in 2012
@Andy: united dominated the first half and a very lucky equaliser brought Chelsea back into it. Momentum shifted and Chelsea dominated the 2nd half.
Extra time was even enough with United missing a sitter if I remember correctly.
We all felt terribly sorry for John Terry though…..
I don’t think many are bitter. United bought Carrick instead then.
@Havid Dickey: masterclass from Fergie there. 12m in the bag and better player was Carrick.
In hindsight carrick was the better of the two , and still with united also , maybe fergie s luck came up trumps again
Poor Fergie ha ha