Former Super Eagles and Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel has opined that African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen was not as greedy as people think during his contract negotiations with Chelsea.
Osimhen was a subject of interest from Chelsea with most intent for his signature on deadline day but the deal failed to materialise causing a lot of opinion from people.
Many believed that it was the low salary budget presented to Osimhen’s camp that stopped the former Lille man not to join the Blues.
But former Chelsea man, Mikel has cleared the air on one his podcast that a deal was agreed in terms of personal terms but certain details did not allowed it materialise.
“The truth needs to be told because Victor Osimhen has come under a lot of criticism about this, because people don’t know the Inside Out of what happened”. Obi said.
“Victor really, really wanted to come to the club, and he had to compromise a lot to come to the middle.
“Because we did reach an agreement in terms of the salary, in terms of what he wants. There were just a few minor details here and there that we just couldn’t get over the line”.
“So for me, hearing all that nonsense about a victor being greedy, a lot of people talking down about him, No, I think it’s time, especially Nigerians, it’s time that we support him”.
“It’s time that people around him, friends and Nigerian fans, whoever, get behind him and support him, because that’s what he needs”.
“I know what the club offered him. I know where we got to. We finally got to a compromise.
“It was just some little things here and there, paperwork, medical and few issues that we just couldn’t get over the line.
“We didn’t have much time, the one time you want the seconds and minutes and hours to slow down a bit, it just didn’t work”.
“Definitely, I think both sides really, really played their part in terms of getting the deal done.
“And I commend Chelsea for that, because I could see the ambition of where they want to take this club now and also on Victor’s side, how much he really wanted to come to the club”.
“And he was disappointed it didn’t happen. He was disappointed”.
