Former Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi has denied he would return to
the English Premier League in January from Chinese Super League side
Tianjin Teda to join Everton.
Some reports had claimed the 30-year-old would leave Tianjin after
an injury-hit first season since moving from Stamford Bridge, with
Everton leading the chase.
But Mikel said he had no intention to leave the Chinese Super League.
“I don’t know where such a rumour came from, but this story is untrue,” he told Tianjin TV.
“I want to stay in the Chinese Super League and play for Teda.
I‘m sure there will be lots of speculation about me as the transfer
window nears but this is a false rumour.”
Mikel will represent his country at the World Cup finals in Russia
in June, playing for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the country’s sixth
appearance.
But he is confident that playing club football in China will not have a detrimental effect on his international performances.
He will hope, however, to avoid the injuries that restricted him to just 13 games in his first season with the club.
“Playing in the CSL will help me maintain my status for the World Cup,” he said.
“The standard of the CSL is quite high. Before, people might
have thought it was slow, but now it’s very quick. I have no doubt
playing in this league will help me stay in shape.
“Of course, there is still a gap between the CSL and the
English Premier League but the CSL is improving. To play more games will
be good and I hope I don’t get injured.”
(Reuters/NAN)