John Obi Mikel emerged as a standout at the 2003 Under-17 World Championship and moved to Europe with Lyn Oslo. Manchester United announced a deal in April 2005 to sign the 18-year-old, while Chelsea also claimed an agreement, creating a year-long dispute. Mikel trained with and posed in a Manchester United shirt but ultimately chose Chelsea. Roman Abramovich and Chelsea fought hard to secure him, while Sir Alex Ferguson met Mikel in an attempt to persuade him. The episode concluded with Mikel informing Ferguson he would not sign for Manchester United.
Almost two decades on, John Obi Mikel's 2006 move to Chelsea remains one of the most controversial and protracted transfer deals in Premier League history. As a teenager, the Nigerian midfielder had been tagged as one to watch, with his performances at the 2003 Under-17 World Championship alerting Europe's biggest clubs to his talents. After moving to Europe with Norwegian side Lyn Oslo, the Premier League came calling.
Mikel went as far as posing with a Manchester United shirt and training with the Red Devils before completing his move to Chelsea, but ultimately he chose the London side, which meant telling Sir Alex Ferguson he did not want to sign for him. Roman Abramovich was like, There's no way I'm letting this kid go, I want him at the club', and they fought tooth and nail to make sure I joined Chelsea, but Manchester United were still not letting go, Mikel recalls
It was just him and me in a room. My agent was outside, and before I went in, he told me: Look, he's going to try, and this meeting determines what happens, so if you come out of there and you've said yes to him, that's a yes but whatever he says, just nod your head and say no. That's exactly what I did. I was sitting at the end of this long table, like the tables they had during COVID for social distancing. Sir Alex was saying to me: Listen, what is it that Chelsea are offering you? Is it the money? Tell me, I will give yo
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