Post by Football Power (@footballpower)

Former #SuperEagles captain John Obi Mikel spoke about the real reason behind his exit from #Chelsea back in 2017.

“(Antonio) Conte was the reason why I left. Once he came in, he was like ‘you’re not playing anymore’, then I left. Obviously when I saw Kante as well coming to the club I was like my time here is done” he said.

Antonio Conte was officially appointed as Chelsea's head coach on April 4, 2016. He left the club in summer 2018.

“The only reason I talked about was when he came in, I and Victor Moses got invited to go to the national team Olympics, so I had a conversation with the club and he (Conte) said I would not play for the club anymore if I decide to go. " John continued." He said ‘I’m a new manager and I’m here, we need to think about the team and the club.’ And he made it clear that my time was done if I decide to go. And I was like, ‘You know what? I’ve been invited to represent the country at the Olympics.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, but if you go just know that your time here is done.’

“I had a hard time when I came back. He never spoke to me and sent me to the reserve team where I was training, and I started training alone for a while, for like six months. I knew my time was done, and I remember there was a period when the team started playing really, really badly. Then he called me and told me about the club’s performance and also asked if I wanted to come back. I declined because I had already made up my mind to leave anyway. I spoke to a few guys including Didier Drogba and he told me to find something new when things happen like it did” he concluded.

Mikel Obi captained the Nigerian national team to a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games, where they made history by becoming the first country to win all three Olympic football medals (gold, silver and bronze). The former midfielder ended his career with the The Blues with 372 appearances, winning 11 major trophies. After leaving, he went on to play with Tianjin TEDA in the Chinese Super League and several other teams till his official retirement in 2022.

#PremierLeague #NaijaPride #Football #JohnObiMikel #Sports

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