Mikel says eligibility rules blocked his Manchester United move
Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has shared how eligibility rules stopped him from joining Manchester United as a teenager. He revealed that he impressed then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson during his trial at Old Trafford and regularly trained with the first team. Despite the manager’s interest, strict Premier League regulations for young African players prevented the signing. Mikel’s experience highlights the challenges faced by young African footballers aiming for top European clubs.
Match highlights
- John Obi Mikel said he was 16 when he spent a month on trial at Manchester United and trained with the first team.
- Sir Alex Ferguson often paired him with Roy Keane in training to protect him from tough tackles.
- Premier League rules required young African players to have played in at least 75% of their national team’s matches to be eligible.
- Mikel had not yet played for Nigeria’s national team, so he did not meet the requirement.
- Because he was only 16, he was not permitted to play for the first team, preventing the move to Manchester United.
