StoryJohn obi Mikel is unlikely to be part of the Rio Olympics 2016

John obi Mikel is unlikely to be part of the Rio Olympics 2016, according to the player’s agent.


Even though the Chelsea midfielder has been included in the 25 man squad announced by Nigeria for this competition, the player could miss the tournament since he might want to focus on his club career. Another reason would be that Chelsea may not be interested in sending Mikel to the Olympic tournament just before the start of the new Premier league season. The upcoming campaign is extremely important for the club after a disappointing 2015-16 season.

Rather than just finishing the season empty-handed, the blues finished outside the top six for the first time in almost 2 decades. Hence, they will be without any form of Champions League football in the upcoming campaign. The club are expected to spend big in almost every area of the pitch in order to improve the team for incoming new manager Antonio Conte. Mikel stated towards the end of last season that his future at Chelsea will be determined after talks with the new boss. The Nigerian international has been a fringe player at the club in the last few years, but he was once again back in the reckoning under Guus Hiddink in the last six months.

“I don’t know if he will be available for the Olympic Games or will attend the training camp. The Nigeria Football Federation are in a better position to say whether he will be available for the Games or not,” said Mikel's agent John Shittu. The Olympic tournament starts just one week before the new Premier League season. Chelsea’s opening game of the Premier league campaign is scheduled on April 13 against archrivals West Ham at Stamford Bridge. Since participating in the Olympics will certainly rule him out of the first few weeks of the season, Chelsea are unlikely to allow his departure.