John Obi Mikel has revealed a fascinating untold story from his teenage years, recalling how close he came to joining Manchester United after impressing Sir Alex Ferguson during a month-long trial — before eventually signing for José Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2004.
Speaking in a sit-down interview with Sky Sports Premier League, shared via the broadcaster’s official X handle, Mikel reflected on his early days in England and the special attention he received from the legendary United boss while still only a teenager.
According to Sky Sports, Mikel said:
I was a 16-year-old kid. I went on trials at Man United with Fergie for like a month. Fergie loved me. I remember when I trained with United. He used to always pair me with Roy Keane.He thought Roy Keane would protect me from the likes of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. They were always tackling people in training.
Watch the full video below:
Although the move to Old Trafford never materialised, Mikel went on to carve out a remarkable career at Chelsea, winning numerous major honours and establishing himself as a club legend. Many still believe that had he joined Ferguson’s Manchester United, he might have added even more trophies to his collection given the club’s dominance during that era.
Since retiring, Mikel has remained a strong voice around Chelsea, frequently speaking on the club’s direction and performances. Softfootball earlier reported that the former midfielder described new Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior as a “yes man”, following the departure of Enzo Maresca, who left the club after a series of off-field disagreements with the hierarchy.
Mikel has also recently spoken about what he sees as a major cultural shift at Stamford Bridge — from a relentless winning mentality under former owner Roman Abramovich to a more profit-driven model under the current ownership. His latest revelation about nearly joining Manchester United only adds another intriguing chapter to the story of one of Chelsea’s most influential modern-era figures.
