Erstwhile Nigerian midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has revealed he snubbed Manchester United to sign for Chelsea in 2006 in a bid to help three other Nigerian players.
The former Super Eagles disclosed his trio compatriots were somehow tied to the deal.
Mikel shone at the 2005 U-20 World Cup in Holland and what followed less than a year after was a transfer controversy involving the English Premier League giants and Lyn Oslo of Norway.
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Mikel had claimed he was forced to initially sign for the Old Trafford outfit, leading to a legal rift that forced FIFA to intervene.
Mikel eventually signed for Chelsea after the club paid the Red Devils 12 million pounds and another 4 million to Lyn Oslo.
The player went on to spend 11 trophy-laden years at Stamford Bridge, before leaving for China.
Mikel Obi has now revealed that his teammates at the U-20 World Cup; Chinedu Obasi, Emmanuel Sarki, and Ezekiel Bala, were all undergoing trials at Chelsea at the time.
Mikel Obi told The Athletic: “When I chose Chelsea, it wasn’t just my life that changed.
“There were four lives that changed. Why? Because if I didn’t, Chelsea might not have anything to do with my three friends. I was close to them. I knew their families.
“I didn’t just make the decision for myself. I thought about them, I thought about their families. This gave them more of a chance.”
