Posted by The Punch on
Nigerian prodigy, John Mikel Obi, wants FIFA to cancel the contract he signed with Manchester United so he can join Premiership champions Chelsea.
Nigerian prodigy, John Mikel Obi, wants FIFA to cancel the contract he signed with Manchester United so he can join Premiership champions Chelsea.
United and Chelsea are waiting for FIFA to rule over the Old Trafford club's complaint regarding Obi's transfer.
Obi is particularly unhappy with the role played by Lyn technical director Morgan Andersen in transfer.
"Andersen knows Chelsea are responsible for me, but he doesn't want to tell the truth," Obi told the Daily Mail.
United announced Obi's £4m transfer on 29 April after he scored twice on his Lyn debut.
But Obi then changed his mind and claimed he wanted to join Chelsea.
Obi trained with United as a 16-year-old, but in the last two years the Nigerian has spent time with Chelsea.
"I went to Manchester United, they said they wanted to sign me but it didn't come up because what they promised, they did not fufil.
"But everything was fine with Chelsea, I was really happy to move to Chelsea and that's where it's been deep down inside me for the past two years.
"All my heart and my mind was to play with Chelsea - because the coach likes me, the people there like me, the players - the big boys - they all like me.
Last week FIFA refused to reveal when it would make a decision on Obi's transfer.
"We've no comment on how long a ruling will take," a FIFA spokesman told BBC Sport. "FIFA has several hundred transfer dispute cases pending."
According to Lyn lawyer Erik Nadheim, the Norwegian club and United sent a complaint to FIFA on Chelsea and two agents involved in the deal, John Shittu and Rune Hauge.
Hauge has said that First Division Lyn do not have the right to sell Obi.
Lyn believe they have a valid contract with Obi, which runs until the end of 2006.
Obi added: "Everything is with FIFAS now. I just want them to take decisions for me. But I have to make my own final decision.
"I just want them to sort things out for me because everyone just wants to get money for themselves and I don't think that's nice."
Sunday Punch, June 19, 2005