The talented midfielder, who earned a month trial at Old Trafford before United struck a provisional deal with Norwegian outfit Lyn Oslo to bring him to the Theatre of Dreams, revealed that United offered him a staggering £1.5m contract but Chelsea’s involvement became a hindrance for the deal to be sealed as he made a stunning u-turn to Stamford bridge in 2006.
Speaking about the deals in a lengthy interview with the Sun, he said:
It was surreal, admits Mikel. I was at school, but had Chelsea and Manchester United — two of the world’s biggest clubs — trying to sign me. I’ll never forget that second meeting with Sir Alex. I’d signed a deal at United but had to tell him: ‘Sorry, I want to play for Chelsea’.
He really liked me but I could see how angry and disappointed he was.
Some things he told me made me think about changing my mind but I was thinking about Jose, too.
I had these two great managers wanting me and I did not know what to do.
Fergie told me: ‘Why would you turn down United? It’s the biggest club in the world. You cannot do that. You have to say Yes’.
As a footballer, you have to make decisions that you live with for the rest of your life.
I trained with the first team,” he recalls. “Roy Keane was my bodyguard.
Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt always tried to kick me but couldn’t when Roy was there because he’d have killed them.
Sir Alex called me Obi Wan (after the Star Wars character).
He called me into his office one day and said: ‘Obi Wan, do you know what Keane, Scholes and all the senior players have told me? They said you have to sign that boy’.
I couldn’t believe it. Here was I, a schoolkid from Africa, training with some of the best in the world.
Mikel also recalls the moment he was approached with a briefcase full of cash – £53,000 to be exact by an agent, promising more if he signed then and there.
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