Mikel Commends Abramovich’s Unwavering Commitment to Chelsea
John Obi Mikel, the former Chelsea midfielder, has openly praised Roman Abramovich, the club’s previous owner, for his remarkable dedication and personal involvement with everyone linked to Stamford Bridge.
Mikel John Obi celebrates Chelsea’s 2010 Premier League victory (Credit: Imago)
Insights from Mikel
On his podcast, “The Obi One,” Mikel shared a poignant story about a difficult period when his father was kidnapped in Nigeria, revealing how Abramovich responded with swift empathy and support.
“Roman was truly one of a kind. He genuinely cared about everyone involved-players, fans, and the entire Chelsea family,” Mikel reflected.
He recounted the unexpected phone call he received from Abramovich during the crisis.
“When my father was abducted, out of nowhere, Roman reached out to me,” Mikel recalled.
Describing their exchange, Mikel highlighted the owner’s sincere concern.
“He asked, ‘Mikel, what do you need? Is there anything I can do? Do you have any leads on how to get your dad back?’ I told him, ‘I’m still trying to make contact with the kidnappers, so I don’t know yet.'”
In an extraordinary gesture, Abramovich pledged immediate assistance. “He said, ‘Give me 24 hours, and if you allow me, I’ll do everything possible to bring your father home,'” Mikel said. “I thought, he’s not even in Nigeria and there’s no clear information-how could he manage that? But he reassured me, ‘Trust me, I’ll take care of it.'”
For Mikel, this was a powerful testament to Abramovich’s heartfelt commitment to his players and the club.
“That’s the level of care he had for his players and Chelsea as a whole,” Mikel emphasized.
The ex-midfielder also acknowledged Abramovich’s role in transforming Chelsea into a global powerhouse.
“The identity Chelsea Football Club holds today is largely thanks to Roman. Because of his vision and investment, we’ve won numerous trophies and established ourselves among the world’s top football clubs,” Mikel concluded.