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English Premier League giants Manchester United have paid over N140 million ($1m) to Lyn for onward transmission to Nigerian prodigy John Mikel Obi as part of the agreement reached with the player when he signed the contract last month.
* Transfer dispute to get quick FIFA hearing
English Premier League giants Manchester United have paid over N140 million ($1m) to Lyn for onward transmission to Nigerian prodigy John Mikel Obi as part of the agreement reached with the player when he signed the contract last month.
KICK OFF learned from Lyn Managing Director Morgan Andersen that the money was outside of the contract fee agreed with the player.
"This is different from the contract fee that he agreed with Manchester United," Andersen said. "The contract starts in January 2006, and that is when those other fees will be paid.
"But this money is for 2005, and is to help the player for the rest of the year. It is like pocket money," he explained.
Andersen also said that Lyn have received the money, but are at a loss how to transfer it to the player. "Manchester United have paid the money to Lyn, but we don't know how to get it to Mikel and we don't know what to do with it."
Returning it to Old Trafford would appear to be out of the question.
Meanwhile, FIFA may make a quick resolution to the transfer dispute between English Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United over FC Lyn's Nigerian midfield prodigy John Mikel Obi.
Obi disappeared from Norway soon after signing an option agreement to move to Old Trafford in January on a four year deal believed to be worth around N1.7 billion and surfaced in London in the company of agent John Shittu claiming that he was 'pressured' to sign for United, and stating he would rather join Chelsea.
United and FC Lyn Oslo lodged a joint complaint to FIFA, asking the governing body to investigate Chelsea's conduct.
In theory, such cases could take anything from a few weeks to one year to get a resolution depending on how complicated it is and how much resources are devoted to it. But a FIFA source informed that the 'few weeks' part was closer to the mark.
"I think everybody involved agrees that it is in everyone's interest to have a quick resolution. This is not one of those cases where someone has an interest in a delay."
Of course the calibre and clout of the combatants involved also goes a long way.
"Look at the parties involved, you have two of the most powerful clubs in the world, Manchester United and Chelsea, an important FA like England and also Nigeria, which pulls its weight within FIFA. All these people putting pressure for a fast decision will, I think, make a difference. And there is the boy himself, he needs to find out what is happening, it's not fair to him," the FIFA source said.
Obi has since joined the Flying Eagles in Paris where they are getting ready for next month's World Youth Championships.