- the midfielder explained that tensions with Conte began before the tournament
- He said Conte warned him that he would lose his place in the team if he travelled for the competition
- Mikel opted to honour the national call-up, saying it was an opportunity to represent his country on a global stage
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has disclosed that his decision to play for Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games brought his time at Chelsea FC to an abrupt end under then-manager Antonio Conte.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Mikel was included in Nigeria’s squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, where he captained the team to a bronze medal after a 3–2 victory over Honduras.
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Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, the midfielder explained that tensions with Conte began before the tournament, when he and teammate Victor Moses received invitations to join the Olympic squad.
According to Mikel, the manager made it clear that choosing to represent Nigeria would come at a cost. He said Conte warned him that he would lose his place in the team if he travelled for the competition, stressing that the club needed his full commitment as a new coach was settling in.
Despite the warning, Mikel opted to honour the national call-up, saying it was an opportunity to represent his country on a global stage.
He revealed that the situation worsened after he returned from Brazil, as he was excluded from the first team and made to train separately for months.
During that period, communication between him and the coach reportedly broke down completely.
Although Conte later reached out amid a dip in the club’s performance, Mikel said he had already decided to move on and declined the offer to reintegrate into the squad.
He added that conversations with former teammates, including Didier Drogba, influenced his decision to seek a fresh start elsewhere.
Reflecting on the experience, Mikel maintained that he has no regrets, describing the Olympic bronze medal as one of the most meaningful achievements of his career.
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