If Chelsea beat Manchester United to the punch with the signing of John Obi Mikel, they were certainly quite delayed. Sitting in a press conference with a Manchester United jersey on his back, it would have taken a brave punter to predict that the 18 year old Nigerian would go on to make over 200 appearances for Chelsea during the coming years. In April 2005, Man United had a deal agreed with Norwegian club Lyn Oslo to sign the promising teenager, with Mikel subsequently signing a contract with the Red Devils. With the Nigerian due to link up with the Mancunians in January 2006, Chelsea immediately issued a writ, claiming that they had already reached an agreement with Mikel and his representatives. The infamous press conference was arranged, during which Mikel was pictured holding up the Manchester United jersey, in a bid to shun Chelsea's lingering interest, but following the sgning of the contract, he was reported by the Norwegian media as 'kidnapped'. It emerged that he had flown to London, and stated in the media that he had been pressured into signing for the Red Devils, a claim strongly refuted by both Manchester United and Chelsea.
''I don't believe it's true that Mikel doesn't want to join Manchester United; I believe he has been forced to say it. His family have been put under huge pressure and the circumstances are very sad. The manner in which he and his family have been treated and pressurised is, quite frankly, disgusting.'' - Sir Alex Ferguson, October 2005.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
