Agent Dismiss Claims By Besiktas CEO Mikel Was Interested In Joining The Club

A representative of John Obi Mikel has dismissed claims by the Besiktas President, Fikret Orman, that he failed to rubber-stamp the transfer of the Nigeria international to the Istanbul club hours leading up to the close of the summer transfer market.

Turkish agent Mesrin Izzet, who sensationally claimed to represent Mikel in the botched move, had previously suggested that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho blocked the midfielder’s transfer to BJK after failing to secure the signature of Paul Pogba from Juventus.

However, Mikel’s adviser says there is no truth to the reports that the central midfielder was interested in joining Besiktas, adding that the club and the agent want to save some face after the player rejected the financial terms that they offered.

“There is nothing like that. He never called the club to agree on a transfer. Besiktas were not buoyant enough to pay Mikel the wages he asked for, ” said Mikel’s rep to allnigeriasoccer.com.

“It was better for him to remain at Chelsea and fight for a first team shirt instead of joining Besiktas and be paid less than what he got at Chelsea.”

Obi Mikel, who was not called up for the AFCON qualifier against Tanzania, is tied to Chelsea until the summer of 2017.