Manchester United had already unveiled Mikel but days later, he was in a Chelsea jersey
Super Eagles striker Mikel Obi has revealed that former Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson gave him a “death stare” when they met for the first time after he snubbed them for Chelsea in 2006 Soccernet reports.
Mikel was at the centre of a transfer mix-up between Premier League Manchester United and Chelsea in 2006. After his heroics for the Flying Eagles in the 200t World Cup, there were a lot of clubs queueing for his signature.
Manchester United looked like they had gotten his services earlier in 2006 as they shared pictures of him with Sir Alex holding the club’s jersey.
However, days later, Chelsea revealed that the Nigerian midfielder already had an agreement with them. Eventually, he signed for the Londoners.
Speaking on his predicament after the controversy, Mikel revealed that he was afraid to meet Sir Alex Ferguson after what happened.
“I saw him one time, it was Manchester United against Chelsea,” Mikel told Debrief Podcast per Daily Mail.
“I was coming out of the dressing room and as I was coming out of the door at the corner he was coming out and I just s*** myself.
“I can’t remember what happened, I think I tripped up on the stairs, he looked at me and just walked out. He started chewing his gum and just walked out. He didn’t say a word.’
Nonetheless, Mikel says that Sir Alex later forgave him for the transfer.
“It was a death stare. I met him a few times after that, and we started talking about it, and he forgot about it and forgave me.”
Mikel’s transfer to Chelsea eventually paid off, as he spent eleven years at the club and won the Champions League, Premier League, and the FA Cup.
