Former Super Eagles’ captain Mikel Obi has revealed the events that led to the premature termination of his contract with Turkish club Trabzonspor in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak across the globe.
The former Chelsea FC midfielder who signed a two-year contract with the Super Lig side in the summer of 2019 was expected to stay in Turkey till 2021.
However, a spate of events influenced by the outbreak of coronavirus led to a termination of his deal with the club by “mutual consent”.
“The professional football player agreement between our company and John Obi Mikel on 30.06.2019 start date 31.05.2021 has been mutually terminated. With a mutual termination agreement, the football player gave up all his forward-looking receivables,” a club statement released on Tuesday said.
Mikel had voiced against the continuity of games in the Turkish League three days prior on Instagram.
“There is more to life than football. I do not feel comfortable and do not want to play football in this situation.
“Everyone should be home with their families and loved ones in this critical time. Season should be cancelled as the world is facing such turbulent times.” Mikel wrote.
But the post marked the beginning of the end of his stay in Turkey.
The former Super Eagles captain after a successfully reuniting with his girlfriend and kids in London has dug out what transpired between him and the club before his departure.
“I was told to meet with president. He asked me to take it down (Instagram post). I told him I wasn’t going to do that. It’s my opinion. This’s how I feel.I have freedom of speech.I can express my opinion.” He told The Athletic.
“I wanted to win league too but at this point in time, we’ve to think about what is more important: to save peoples’ lives.
“I want to help in any way I can to defeat this virus. For us to be out there playing; I don’t think we are helping the global situation.”
“I don’t feel it is right for us to play football.nUEFA has postponed football. How come they are still playing in Turkey? It’s not right at all.
“But Trabzonspor were not having it — for me, they don’t care. I told them I wanted to go home.”
🗣️ @mikel_john_obi: “They said, ‘If you go home, you’re not coming back.’
“I said, ‘OK, I’m going home.’” pic.twitter.com/FGQUwGFkg3
— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) March 19, 2020
“They said, ‘If you go home, you’re not coming back.’ I said, ‘OK, I’m going home.
“I explained to the club I needed to see & be with my kids.They re calling every morning, crying on the phone, wondering why their friends re not coming for play, why they can’t touch anyone.”
“I didn’t feel happy every morning lying to my kids, making up stories to explain why in order to try not to make them panic (about #COVID).
“I knew if I came home, they’d be relaxed because they’d then know daddy was home.”
“I told the club, ‘OK, if that’s what you’re saying, I’m ready to give up my contract.
“To be with my family, to help the world to do the right thing — everybody needs to #StayHome at this point in time.
“I ve taken a financial hit by taking this stance. It’s worth every single penny. Am telling you.
“To see my kids happy and fine, to know we ll survive this together, the only way we can beat this is by being at home with your family, taking care of your family, your neighbour.”
“Just imagine if this goes on for months.I wouldn’t be able to see my kids, to help my family?
“God forbid anything happened to them and I wasn’t there.I wasn’t willing to make that sacrifice.”#COVID19NIGERIA #FightCOVID19#CoronaVirusUpdate #StopTheSpread #CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/OpJo6GFRzC
— FAST TRACK (@FastTrackNaija) March 20, 2020
“When I arrived back in London, it was amazing.
“My girlfriend has been panicking all week over the possibility of UK borders being shut and me not being able to come back home, that I’d be stuck in Turkey.
“Just imagine if this goes on for months.I wouldn’t be able to see my kids, to help my family?
“God forbid anything happened to them and I wasn’t there.I wasn’t willing to make that sacrifice.”
“Before we hugged,I had to come home & shower,change my clothes & everything.
“In Turkey, I wasn’t tested or anything like that.I had to make sure I did right things before touching them.
“We had chance to win league but I gave that all up to do the right thing.”
“We have to look at ourselves sometimes in life and ask, ‘what is more important?
“Who do I want to be friends with? When I’m in trouble, who is going to look after me?
The way they have dealt with this, I don’t see myself going back to Trabzonspor again.”
