John Obi Mikel opens up on moment he told Sir Alex Ferguson he wasn't joining Manchester United

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has opened up about his controversial move to the Stamford Bridge outfit after initially signing for Manchester United as a teenager.

Back in 2005 Mikel was one of the most highly-rated young footballers in the world, with top teams across Europe fighting for his signature. After agreeing a £4million move to Old Trafford, the Nigerian was even pictured in a United shirt during a press conference before the move sensationally fell through after the player said he felt pressured into the move.

Mikel has now opened up about the failed move to United - and legendary United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's reaction to the news he would not be moving to the Reds.

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Speaking to talkSPORT, Mikel said: "I think I was 17 back then. I was in Norway at Lyn, Oslo. I played my first game for the club and the week after that United flew into Oslo and they were like, 'Okay, you know what, you came once to the club, you were young and we had you at the club for two or three months and now you've gone away and nobody knows where you are but here you are at Lyn in Oslo, Norway'.

"I was like, 'Yeah here I am.' And then Fergie sent someone down to Oslo with a pre-contract. It was like, 'Here, you need to sign this contract because the boss wants you to sign. We want you at the club'.

"It [Manchester] was a special place for me as well because I was there for two or three months. I know the place. I know the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt. We used to train together. The gaffer was like, 'Oh you need to sign this, you need to sign the