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.
Source: AfricanFootball.com