John Obi Mikel 's**t himself' meeting Sir Alex Ferguson after Manchester United transfer saga
The midfielder was at the centre of a transfer saga which saw him eventually not move to Man United but join Chelsea instead
John Obi Mikel admits he 's**t himself' when he saw Sir Alex Ferguson after his transfer U-turn from Manchester United to head to Chelsea instead.
In 2005, the Nigerian was due to move to Old Trafford after United had agreed a deal with Norwegian side Lyn Oslo worth some £4m. The midfielder was due to move to United in 2006.
However, Chelsea responded to the move by claiming they had agreed a deal with Mikel's agents, though Lyn denied this. A transfer saga soon developed over which side had secured the midfielder's services.
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In the end, the Stamford Bridge side offered to end the saga and it came to a conclusion. Chelsea paid Lyn £4m and United a £12m fee and Mikel became a player at the London club in the summer of 2006.
The midfielder ended up playing 372 times for Chelsea and scoring six goals before leaving the club in 2017. He won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Champions League during his time with Chelsea.
But before a meeting with United, the club he was originally due to join, Mikel recalled clapping eyes with Sir Alex after his move to Old Trafford did not come to pass. The retired midfielder joked he 's**t' himself when he saw the legendary United boss and the Scot did not say a word to him.
Mikel described the meeting as a 'death stare'. But he made it clear that in subsequent meetings following discussions, Sir Alex forgot the matter and forgave him.
Speaking on The Debrief Podcast, Mikel said: "I saw him one time, it was Manchester United against Chelsea, 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 he just walked out. He started chewing his gum and just walked out. He didn't say a word.
"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."
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