Finally, John Mikel Obi reveals his first meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson after his controversial Chelsea deal

John Obi Mikel had on July 19, 2006 joined Chelsea after turning down Manchester United, despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s efforts to lure him to Old Trafford, National Daily can confirm.

It was revealed that the situation really angered Ferguson, who had met with Mikel twice before he opted to join big-spending Chelsea instead.

Mikel speaking when the pair eventually came face to face once more when he travelled with Chelsea to face United at Old Trafford:

“I saw him one time, it was Manchester United against Chelsea,” Mikel told The Debrief Podcast (via The Mail). “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,” he added. “I met him a few times after that and we started talking about it and he forgot about it and forgave me.”

Mikel has already been presented in United shirt before his controversial switch to Chelsea

Mikel now 36, has retired from the game after spending 10 remarkable years at Stamford Bridge. He also enjoyed further spells in Turkey, England and Kuwait.

The former Nigerian international played more than 350 games for the Blues while winning Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Mikel  can also boast of Champions League glory with the Blues, with the midfielder playing the full 120 minutes as  Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the 2012 final.

But for obvious reasons, Mikel has still been unable to forget Ferguson’s instant reaction upon learning he would be moving to Stamford Bridge.

“He really liked me but I could see how angry and disappointed he was,” Mikel told The Sun in 2019.. “Fergie told me: ‘Why would you turn down United? It’s the biggest club in the world. You cannot do that. You have to say Yes’.”

Ferguson, however, didn’t blame the then-teenage midfielder for the move falling through. “I don’t believe it’s true that Mikel doesn’t want to join Manchester United; I believe he has been forced to say it,” Ferguson said in 2005 when United learned they would miss out.

“His family have been put under huge pressure and the circumstances are very sad. The manner in which he and his family have been treated and pressurised is, quite frankly, disgusting.”