John Obi Mikel Reveals Sir Alex Ferguson Has Forgiven Him for 2005 Transfer Saga
John Obi Mikel recently shared that Sir Alex Ferguson has finally forgiven him for his dramatic transfer to Chelsea nearly two decades ago. Initially signed by Manchester United in 2005, Mikel was seen in a United shirt at a press conference before Chelsea intervened.
Chelsea strategically sent Mikel to Norwegian club Lyn, positioning for a future deal. The situation escalated when United announced his signing. In a tense meeting, Mikel confessed to Ferguson that his intention was not to join United.
After 18 years, Mikel and Ferguson reunited at Wembley during the Champions League final, where the former midfielder confirmed all was forgiven. Speaking on the Breakfast show with Jason Cundy and Andy Townsend, Mikel expressed relief over the reconciliation.
“It’s so good for the boss to finally forgive me after such a long time,” Mikel said. “He mentioned it a couple of times during my career, saying, ‘You were the one that got away.’ But he’s a lovely man and at 82, he’s still strong.”
Mikel reminisced about the transfer saga, detailing how Chelsea sent him to Norway for training, only for United to announce his signing shortly after. This led to a frantic response from Chelsea, involving agents and secret meetings in Oslo.
“Then Chelsea flew me out to London and kept me hidden,” Mikel recounted. “The whole thing dragged on for a year, and I missed playing football, which was really tough for my family.”
Reflecting on the long-ago drama with Ferguson, Mikel shared, “We joked about it. David Gill, who handled transfers for United, said it gave him grey hairs. It was good to finally laugh about it.”
Mikel’s career flourished at Chelsea, where he made 372 appearances, scored six goals, and won numerous titles, including two Premier League championships, four FA Cups, two League Cups, and the Champions League and Europa League.
