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Obi has the force to inspire United
By Matt Hughes, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 10.05.05As Star Wars fans prepare to invade the cinemas Manchester United supporters are celebrating their latest arrival from a galaxy far, far away. As far as Sir Alex Ferguson is concerned there is only one Obi that matters.
John Obi Mikel has attracted a lot of attention for a teenager who's played just three first-team games in his life, but the Nigerian has already experienced more than many players manage in their entire careers.
Ever since he was selected to enter the Pepsi Academy in Lagos eight years ago Mikel appeared to be on different level to his contemporaries, embarking on a remarkable journey that took him to Plateau United in Jos, Manchester United, Ajax Cape Town, Lyn Oslo and Chelsea before heading back to Old Trafford.
This incredible journey could yet end in the courts as Chelsea and United and two rival agents contest ownership of the precocious 18-yearold, but the controversy appears to have had little effect on the man-child in question.
As news broke on Sunday of Chelsea's threatened legal action and FIFA agent Daniel Fletcher's claims that he had not heard from his client in eight months Mikel put in his most impressive performance to date, scoring his first professional goal and creating another in Lyn Oslo's 3-2 win over Rosenborg.
Amid all the uncertainty the only guarantee seems to be that Mikel will not be with Oslo next season and he is likely to spend the next two years at Sporting Lisbon while he qualifies for a work permit.
The teenage superstar has outgrown the Norwegian club after just three appearances, with United announcing his signature on a fouryear contract worth £4million on 29 April, four days after his 18th birthday.
Having welcomed Mikel to Stamford Bridge last December on the understanding he would sign for them when he was old enough, Chelsea are furious at losing out on a player whom Jose Mourinho himself describes as "pure gold".
Chelsea officials will discuss the matter with their counterparts at Old Trafford tonight, but there appears to be little they can do. Although there are unsubstantiated rumours of a cash payment to keep the player happy there is no evidence of a contract guaranteeing he would sign for the club.
Having lost Arjen Robben to Chelsea, with the lingering suspicion that Peter Kenyon's inside knowledge helped him secure the deal, Ferguson will see this case as a moral victory and can at least point to a long-term interest in Mikel.
United were the first European club to recognise his potential, inviting him to train at Carrington in January 2003 with the entire Nigeria Under 17 team soon following at a time when Kenyon was still at the club as chief executive. It was Mikel's performances in that year's World U17 Championships in Finland, though, that provided the first indications of his ability and started the scramble for his signature.
An imposing athlete with a delicate touch rare in someone over six foot, it was his intelligent movement that most impressed, drawing comparisons to Eric Cantona with his ability to operate 'in the hole'.
Having secured the mandate to act on his behalf agent Fletcher offered him to United along with fellow Nigerian youngsters Isaac Promise, Ezekiel Bala and Emmanuel Surki, but was turned down on the grounds that they only wanted Mikel. Two years later it looks like an expensive mistake.
After ending up in Oslo following a brief stint in Cape Town word finally reached Chelsea late last year - by which time he was under the control of Nigerian agent John Shittu - when all four boys spent two months at the club whilst staying in London with one of their heroes, Celestine Babayaro.
Having witnessed his performances on the training pitch Babayaro describes Mikel as a "wonderkid" and others have gone further, comparinghim favourably with Jay Jay Okacha. Colin Udoh, editor of magazine Kick Off Nigeria, said: "They both have wonderful skills but Obi is a big fella and has a better defensive game.
"Jay Jay is an attacking midfielder whereas Obi is more complete, attacking and defending in equal measure. He's the next big star to come out of Nigeria, as good as Cantona."
Whatever happens he can hardly do worse than his predecessor as the new Cantona, an Aston Villa midfielder called Eric Djemba-Djemba.
