LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) –Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson has ‘forgiven’ Mikel John Obi for his part in one of football’s most infamous transfer sagas.
The Red Devils made a public announcement in 2005 confirming they’d struck a deal to sign then-18-year-old Mikel from Norwegian club Lyn. The youngster had even posed in pictures sporting the Red Devils kit in anticipation of a widely reported move to Old Trafford.
However, Ferguson was among the most surprised when Mikel went back on the contract he’d signed with United and opted to join Chelsea in 2006 instead.
The move provoked fury from Ferguson, who didn’t hold back when expressing his discontent, labelling Chelsea’s behaviour during the transfer as “disgusting.”
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However, it appears any bad blood between Ferguson and Mikel is now a thing of the past. That’s after the pair posed for a photo alongside one another at the Champions League final on Saturday.
Both were present for the European crescendo at Wembley, where Real Madrid triumphed over Borussia Dortmund and secured a 2-0 victory to regain the European crown.
Two-time Premier League champion Mikel shared the snap on his Instagram story along with a smiley face and the caption: “The boss @siralexferguson 26. He has forgiven me.”
Mikel, who won Chelsea’s Young Player of the Year award in his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge – had previously remarked on how Ferguson “forgot about it and forgave” him several years after the initial controversy.
Speaking on The Debrief podcast last year, he recounted: “I saw him one time, it was Manchester United against Chelsea, 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.