Is It Time For Mikel Obi to Join Another Club?

Author: Raphael Minter

John Mikel Obi has been a backup at Chelsea football club after joining the club in 2006.

Mikel has played in a super-sub midfield role to Michael Essien and under Jose Mourinho's second spell, Nemanja Matic.

Originally a central midfielder who doubles up as an attacking and defensive midfielder, Mikel is one of the modern footballers who does all the dirty work but its unrecognized in the game. He has been a lucky player winning all there is to win in Club football with Chelsea FC. He has also been unlucky because managers that favour his style of play, believe in his abilities and gives him a starting berth do not stay at Chelsea for long.

Evidently, Mikel solidified Chelsea's midfield when Guus Hiddink replaced Mourinho as interim manager in the course of the 2015/16 campaign.

Mikel Obi Should Make a Move After Chelsea's Signing of N'Golo Kante

Everything seems to have changed with the hiring of Antonio Conte as manager and his purchase of N'Golo Kante, a player who made the Premier League Team of the Year shows that Mikel's time at Chelsea is up and he should move and not be used as a backup.

Many teams would love the service of the Nigerian International because Mikel intercepts opposing play and gives accurate passes added to his ball control abilities.

Age is catching up with Mikel Obi as at 30, he no longer has the energy to exhibit the tireless play he was once known for.

Aside Kante's acquisition, Mikel was part of the golden generation of Chelsea that won everything including the UEFA Champions League in 2012 followed by the UEFA Europa League in 2013. He has also won the FA Cup on numerous occasions and two Premier League titles in 2010 and 2015.

He has won it all and needs a new beginning. Africa as a continent has not been doing well Internationally because most of the star players in their respective national teams are not getting the playing time they deserve to get them prepared for tournaments.

Mikel Obi should move away from Chelsea and become a starter for another team because there is nothing to compete for with the club and he badly needs a new challenge.