I Can't Trade off My Family For Career, Money - Mikel

Why I Left Trabzonspor - Mikel

By Sampson Adedeji

Former Nigeria international John Mikel Obi has explained the reason he terminated his contract with the Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor.

Mikel signed a 2 year deal with the club last summer after ended short stint with English championship side Middlebrough, BSN Reports.

Their 9 months relationship ended last Tuesday after both parties agreed to a mutual termination of the deal due to the outbreak of Corona virus.

Former Chelsea star took his time to explain what transpired to The Athletic Press, when he arrived at Heatrow Airport.

“They were really upset about the whole thing.

"I was told to meet with the president (Agaoglu) in his office one-on-one. He (Agaoglu) asked me to take it down (the Instagram post).

“I told him I wasn’t going to do that. It’s my opinion. This is how I feel. We live in a free world. I have freedom of speech. I can express my opinion.

“I wanted to win the league too but at this point in time, we have to think about what is more important: to save peoples’ lives.

“I want to help in any way that 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.

“UEFA 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. They said, ‘If you go home, you’re not coming back.’ I said, ‘OK, I’m going home.

“I explained to the club that I needed to see and be with my kids. They were calling me every single morning, crying on the phone, wondering why their friends were not coming over for play dates, why they can’t touch anyone on the street. 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-19).

“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 stay at home at this point in time’.

“I have taken a financial hit by taking this stance. It is worth every single penny, I’m telling you. To see my kids happy and fine, to know we will 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.

"When I arrived back at London Heathrow, it was amazing. My girlfriend has been panicking all week over the possibility of the 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," he concluded.