My Regrets not playing for Man United, Unforgettable encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson- MIKEL OBI
*Nigerian soccer star revealed he had to attend a meeting with Man Utd boss Ferguson before settling the transfer
*How Chelsea was forced to pay a £12m settlement to rivals to ensure contract
*”Sir Alex Fugerson left the meeting so upset, flew back to Manchester same day. After a week it was settled. Although I could have won more Premier League’s at Old Trafford, I don’t regret my decision. I should have won more Premier League titles (if I moved to Man United), but I have four FA Cup titles. I’d have been the first Nigerian player to play for United but I had an amazing 11 years at Chelsea. Fantastic time. It became my home”-MIKEL
*BY SHEANA SAMUEL/SPORTS Correspondent, London, NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER
WITHOUT MINCING WORDS, Nigerian born former Chelsea midfielder JOHN OBI MIKEL has opened up on his failed move to Manchester United, revealing that he had a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson and the Football Association before rejecting them.
Eye witness reports that Sir Alex Ferguson thought he had won the race for the talented Nigerian’s signature in 2006, and he was even pictured in a United shirt, only for him to join Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge instead.
Chelsea were then forced to pay a £12m settlement to their rivals to ensure it went ahead. Now, the Nigerian has revealed that he had to attend a meeting with Man Utd boss Ferguson before settling the transfer.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, he said: ‘I didn’t get one (hairdryer treatment), I thought I was going to! I had a meeting with him at the FA offices in London.
‘He was invited to come down. The FA wanted to settle the whole story. I had a meeting face-to-face on a long table. It’s like watching Putin now sit with a long table and everyone sitting there.
‘We were sitting across from each other and he was trying to convince me to come to Man United.’
The former midfielder continued to reveal that Ferguson offered to match Chelsea’s wages because he was so keen to sign him.
‘He asked what are they giving you? Is it money? I’ll sign it right now, give me the paper,’ Mikel continued.
However, the Nigerian refused and ended up being a Chelsea player, where he spent 11 years.
Mikel continued to reveal how upset the Man United boss was with his decision to move to London.
He said: ‘He left the meeting so upset, flew back to Manchester same day. After a week it was settled.’
Reflecting on his decision, the former Chelsea man admitted that although he could have won more Premier League’s at Old Trafford, he doesn’t regret his decision.
He concluded: ‘I should have won more Premier League titles (if I moved to Man United), but I have four FA Cup titles.
‘I’d have been the first Nigerian player to play for United but I had an amazing 11 years at Chelsea. Fantastic time. It became my home.
‘The players, the friends, people at the club, they all became family. We won a lot, had an amazing time. More highs than lows. A brilliant time that I will never ever forget.’
DONATE TO HELP BUILD A SPECIAL APPS FOR JOURNALISTS AGAINST LIVER ELEVATION & KIDNEY FAILURE:
CERTAINLY, Good journalism costs a lot of money. Without doubt, only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government. We are ready to hold every corrupt government accountable to the citizens. To continually enjoy free access to the best investigative journalism in Nigeria, we are requesting of you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavor.”
By contributing to NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all without fear or favor.
Your donation is voluntary — please decide how much and how often you want to give. For offline donation, email: letters@nigeriastandardnewspaper.com or call +2348037128048 (Nigeria) or +16825834890 (United States of America)
