The Nigerian international is set to add to the 339 official appearances he has made for Chelsea FC since joining the club in 2006, after confirming that he will stay with the Stamford Bridge outfit till the end of his contract
In news that is likely to evoke contrasting emotions in Chelsea FC fans, the divisive figure of John Obi Mikel is set to continue to be a subject for debate for at least two more seasons – until the end of the 28-year-old’s contract in 2017.
Although the Nigerian international has been linked with Turkish club Fenerbah e as well as Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates, neither side have made an offer that is likely to be considered by Mourinho, who Mikel claims is keen on keeping him at Stamford Bridge.
Mikel going nowhere this summer window
Chelsea FC will be retaining the services of their no.12 for at least the immediate future, with the defensive midfielder confirming his desire to see out the remaining two years of his contract with the club.
Mikel is quoted by London-based newspaper Evening Standard as saying; “I have two years left on my contract here and want to see them out. I am happy here and we will see what happens. I do want to stay, the manager wants me to stay so I don’t have any issues.
Mikel wants to see out two years left on his contract. Can’t leave his ‘family’…more here: http://t.co/RMeAl1VdYL .
a Simon Johnson (@sjstandardsport) July 24, 2015
“The manager has told me he wants me to stay. He said that and I’m pretty happy to stay. This is going to be my tenth season at the club, next year it will be my 11th. I have been here so long due to the contracts I have signed and I like to be somewhere where I have developed friendships.”
The Nigerian – who has made 339 appearances for Chelsea FC, more than any player from the current squad bar John Terry – has also claimed he feels completely at home at Stamford Bridge and is not keen on swapping that for a new environment just yet. “This is like my family now. Every time I come to work it’s like coming into see my family.
“I know the whole place, the staff, it is going to be a hard place to leave when my contract runs out and then we will see what happens.”
Mourinho happy with his midfield options
Mikel’s comments come as further confirmation of what Chelsea FC manager Jos Mourinho said in a media press conference prior to the game against the New York Red Bulls. The Portuguese is seemingly happy with the midfielders he has at his disposal.
a If somebody speaks about other midfield players, ita s not true because I have Ramires, Mati , F bregas, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek and Oscar,” said Mourinho.
The Blues had been briefly linked with Chilean midfielder Charles Aranguiz as well as Belgian Axel Witsel during the summer, but it appears as though there is unlikely to be any change to Mourinho’s midfield for the coming season.
As the club’s only real defensive midfielder apart from Nemanja Mati , Mikel will continue to be a useful member of the squad – an option for the Blues’ manager to use in order to kill games, or hang on to slender leads.
Whatever Chelsea FC fans may think of him, it is evident that the manager values his presence in the squad, and Mikel will begin what will be his tenth season at the club come August 2015.