Stoke City Coach Says Mikel Did Not Join Club for Money
Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill has said former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere before choosing to join the Championship club.
Mikel had been linked with moves to clubs in Italy and Brazil, including Benevento, Botafogo and Internacional, but eventually opted to remain in England, where his family was already settled.
The midfielder had previously played for Turkish side Trabzonspor before leaving the club.
O’Neill said Mikel had several financially attractive options available to him but chose Stoke for reasons beyond money.
“John Obi Mikel had many opportunities around the globe about where he could have gone and played which, I assure you, were a lot more lucrative than what he signed here at Stoke,” O’Neill said.
Mikel featured as Stoke defeated Newcastle United 1-0 in a pre-season friendly at St James’ Park.
It was his third consecutive pre-season start after also featuring from the beginning against Shrewsbury Town and Leeds United.
Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo had not featured in Stoke’s pre-season matches, increasing speculation that he could leave the club.
