By Ishola Adeleke, YeyeNews.com, November 7, 2021
Former Super Eagles and Chelsea FC midfielder has reportedly turned down a $100,000 per week deal from Italian Serie A club AS Roma. A source close to the midfielder told YeyeNews.com that Mikel rejected the relatively juicy offer because he did not ever want to play under coach Jose Mourinho again. “The issue with Roma is that Mourinho is their coach. Though Mourinho wanted Mikel Obi in the club to shore up their midfield, Mikel doesn’t want to play under the coach”, the source disclosed.
On the reason why the midfielder does not want to play under his manager the source said it is about tactics. “Look at how Messi and Aguero are blossoming. Mikel was the second best player in the 2005 FIFA under 20 World Cup behind Messi. His performance at the tournament totally eclipsed those of Aguero and Fabregas who played similar attacking midfield roles in the competition. Mikel was a blossoming talent. But when he arrived at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho converted him into a defensive minded midfielder and that set back his development. He has remained an ordinary player since then without any spark. He still blames Mourinho for this. He has vowed never to play under the manager no matter the amount”.
YeyeNews.com gathered from a former agent of the midfielder that all efforts to get him to rescind his decision has not yielded results. “Even now that he is without club, Mikel Obi still doesn’t want to go AS Roma. His anger is deep-seated. He looks at Messi and sees what his own career could have been if not for Jose Mourinho. It really hurts him. He has even confided with close friends that he would rather return to play for Plateau United if he can’t find a new club than go to Roma”, the former agent disclosed.
Meanwhile, YeyeNews.com has gathered that the Italian club has turned its focus to a yet to be identified Chelsea midfielder after the refusal of Mikel Obi to accept their offer.
