Retired Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi has opened up about his failed move to Manchester United despite signing a pre-contract agreement to join the Red Devils but went on instead to sign for Chelsea while admitting the move was the best for his career.
The midfielder 2006 made a controversial transfer to English club Chelsea after Manchester United claimed they had already signed him.
He then went on to stay with the Stamford Bridge-based club for 11 years winning all there was to win with the team before moving to China with Tianjin TEDA in 2017.
“I enjoyed everything I achieved at Chelsea – it’s the best decision I have ever made in my life. I signed a pre-contract for Man United when I was 17,” he spoke of his decision.
“If you are a kid and you see Sir Alex right in front of you with the contract, of course, you will be tempted.”
“I acted as a young kid and as soon as Chelsea heard the news, they came and got me out of Norway. That’s when people started saying that I was kidnapped. It wasn’t a great moment for me then. I just wanted to play football because I was so young,” he explained.
In a 14-year international career between 2005 and 2019, he played 91 times for Nigeria, scoring six goals.
