After being embroiled in one of the most convoluted transfer stories in football history for several years, former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi declared that the great Sir Alex Ferguson had forgiven him.  Mikel was a highly sought-after young player at Lyn Oslo in Norway in 2005, and United was keeping an eye on him. The Nigerian sensation appeared to have been signed by the Devils from the Norwegian team after a contract was made public.

Mikel was even photographed sporting a United shirt, and they even held a news conference. However, the plan was drastically derailed when Chelsea intervened, and Mikel claimed he was under duress to make the change. Mikel stated to Sky Sports News in 2006, "I didn't sign a deal with Manchester United of my own free will.

I felt a lot of pressure to carry out that action. I didn't have much time to reflect when my agent and other trustworthy people rejected my counsel. I took action that I did not wish to take. It became too much because of pressure from Mr. Morgan (Andersen, Lyn's sporting director) and a United representative. "I was pushed and I had nobody on my side so I had to do it," Lyn said.  The pressure was too much because I was not given a week to consider it and get some unbiased opinions from others.

Ferguson was scheduled to travel to Norway for crisis talks, but he was forced to postpone the trip after learning that the Nigerian had vanished from his training session and was believed to be on his way to London for negotiations with Chelsea, according to multiple sources. He eventually joined the Blues and played for them for 11 trophy-filled years at Stamford Bridge.

Years later, Mikel disclosed on his podcast that he was terrified to see Ferguson on the touchline during Chelsea's match against Manchester United. And the retiring Scottish manager had a terrible expression on his face when they finally met. Nineteen years later, during the evening of Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley, the retired football player encountered Ferguson, and the two had a good time.