AfricanFootball.com can exclusively reveal that
Nigeria World Cup star Mikel Obi will stay on and
fight for his Chelsea future because he is due to get
his British passport in October.
A close associate of the Chelsea midfielder
informed AfricanFootball.com Mikel could have
readily taken up offers from clubs like Monaco and
Juventus this summer, but for the fact that this
could deny him a British passport in October.
“Mikel will be a British citizen by October and that
was one of the main considerations why he has
opted to stay put at Chelsea at least for the time
being,” the player’s close associate informed
AfricanFootball.com
“There are offers from clubs like Juventus,
Galatasaray and Monaco, but he would rather get
his passport before he considers any of them.”
The Nigerian law allows for dual citizenship and so
the likes of Tijjani Babangida, Odion Ighalo,
Bennedict Akwuegbu and Bartholomew Ogbeche
carry two passports.
AfricanFootball.com has also been told Mikel could
well consider a January exit from Stamford Bridge
by the time he gets his passport and by then he is
still playing a bit role at ‘The Blues’.
The 27-year-old Mikel joined Chelsea in 2006,
winning several major honours including UEFA
Champions League and Europa League as well as
the English Premier League title.
However, last season he made a total of 36
appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals.
He has a contract with the London club till June
2017.
