John Obi Mikel says Sir Alex Ferguson has finally ‘forgiven’ him for snubbing Man United to join Chelsea… as he reveals what the iconic boss told him at the Champions League final

John Obi Mikel has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson has finally forgiven him, almost 20 years after he turned down Manchester United to join Chelsea.

The former Nigerian international first signed for the Red Devils in 2005 and was even seen wearing the club shirt during a hastily organized press conference.

That was until the Blues invaded in 2006 when he joined Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, although Chelsea were forced to pay a £12 million settlement to their rivals to ensure the deal went through.

Mikel previously revealed that he was ‘being himself’ when he saw Ferguson following the U-turn, and that the Scotland manager gave him a death glare.

The pair were pictured reunited at the Champions League final at Wembley, and Mikel has revealed how Ferguson finally forgave him.

Mikel almost signed for Manchester United in 2005 and was even pictured in their shirt

However, Chelsea intervened and signed the former Nigeria international instead

Speaking talkSPORTsaid the 37-year-old: “It’s so good that the boss finally forgives me after so long.

“He said a few times (during his career) that it was like this: ‘You were the one who got away, weren’t you?’

‘But he is a sweet, sweet man and at 82 years old he is still going strong.

“I told him, ‘We want you here as bad as we can, as long as we can.’ And he says, ‘Listen, you got away, but you had a great career at Chelsea, so I wouldn’t say anything bad about that, but I certainly forgive you now.”

Mikel also told talkSPORT that he signed a pre-contract with Manchester United before he turned 18.

United had persuaded Mikel to sign a four-year contract, bypassing his agents and the midfielder was expected to arrive at Old Trafford in January 2006.

Mikel added: ‘When they (Chelsea) saw the whole news on TV: ‘Oh, what’s happening here?’ Well, Mikel has signed a pre-contract with United.’ Of course they had to send the officers, everyone, to Oslo to find out what happened.

‘They came down and then I was taken away from the club. I was hidden somewhere for a few hours and no one knew where I was. Then I ended up being flown to London by Chelsea and locked up somewhere, so it lasted about a year, trying to sort it out.”

Mikel missed a year of football as the problem was resolved, before eventually making the move to Chelsea in 2006.

Ferguson and Mikel were both present for Real Madrid’s last European victory

Mikel previously revealed he was ‘being himself’ after watching Ferguson follow the U-turn

Mikel said last year during the Debrief Podcast: ‘I saw him once, it was Manchester United against Chelsea, I came out of the dressing room and when I came out of the corner he came out and I just fucked myself’

‘I can’t remember what happened, I think I tripped on the stairs, he looked at me and just walked out. He started chewing his gum and just walked outside. He didn’t say a word.’

Mikel enjoyed a long spell at Chelsea and stayed at the club until 2017.

In total, he made 372 appearances for Chelsea, scoring six goals, while winning the Champions League, two Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Europa League.