Posted by TONY UBANI on
Nigeria and Lyn rising star John Obi-Mikel has exclusively told Eurosport about his hopes of winning the African Nations Cup in Egypt and the pressures of being a young prospect coveted by the top clubs in Europe.
Nigeria and Lyn rising star John Obi-Mikel has exclusively told Eurosport about his hopes of winning the African Nations Cup in Egypt and the pressures of being a young prospect coveted by the top clubs in Europe.
Obi-Mikel- still at Lyn in Norway after a protracted legal wrangle inlcuding FIFA, his club, Chelsea and Manchester United - is not overawed by his experienced Nigeria team-mates but is still looking to learn from them.
'It's been okay, coming into the team and playing with some great players. It's the national team, we're a big country and we have a lot of talented players."
'Everyone in this tournament came here for a goal; to win the cup or get to the semi finals depending on where they set that goal.
Obi_Mikel is in the midst of a complicated legal battle between Manchester United and Chelsea, both of whom are claiming the player as their own. United were believed to have bought the youn midfielder in a 6m euro deal, but Obi_Mikel's representatives are claiming he was coerced into signing for the club, the player himself preferring a move to Chelsea.
FIFA are now involved amidst accusations of threats against the player, who chose to remain non_committal on the subject.
'It's been a lot for me as a young football player coming out.
'I just try to be myself. I've got nice people around me, like my manager, they just give me advice.
'they tell me to just get on the pitch and play, there's been a lot of talk about me but just play football."
'It's something that just happened and I hope it's going to be sorted. I just want people to realise that I've got a future."