Some of the greatest players in history have represented Chelsea over the years, but John Obi Mikel reckons the club once lost a midfield speed demon for absolutely nothing.
The likes of Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Dennis Wise and Michael Essien are all part of Stamford Bridge folklore after their heroics wearing the hallowed blue shirt.
Mikel can perhaps also count himself among them, having spent a glittering 11-year spell with the Blues and won two Premier League titles as well as the Champions League.
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However, he has now insisted that the club let someone truly rapid slip through their fingers.
Former Chelsea player John Obi Mikel presents prior to the Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
John Obi Mikel picks N’Golo Kante for ultimate midfielder game
Asked to build his perfect midfielder by Bleacher Report Football, John Obi Mikel name-dropped a number of the greatest players to grace the Premier League, including Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
But when it came to the speed category, he opted for the tireless N’Golo Kante.
The pundit initially went for Yaya Toure before changing his mind and choosing Kante, who was renowned for his seemingly never-ending stamina and work rate at Leicester City and Chelsea.
After helping Leicester win the top-flight title in 2015-16, he sealed a switch to West London and went on to win the Champions League, Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.
Kante also won a host of awards off the pitch, including the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year in 2017, and played a crucial role in France’s 2018 World Cup success.
Accompanying him in Mikel’s ultimate midfielder selections were Paul Scholes for passing, Lampard for shooting and Gerrard for tackling. Toure ultimately took the strength accolade.
Mikel then capped off the game by naming Manchester City icon David Silva as the best dribbler.
N’Golo Kante could be set for return to Europe
Kante has been linked with a move back to Europe in recent months, but for now, he remains on the books at Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad.
He has spent the past two campaigns at the club and has made 86 appearances, scoring nine goals.
The veteran was reported to have been given a deal worth £88million-a-year and put pen to paper after achieving a lifelong ambition with Chelsea.
“My dream was to become a footballer and to try and win trophies,” he said. “Joining Chelsea was the perfect arrangement for me to achieve those dreams.
“The first day I joined Chelsea, I was told very early on that the objective here is always to win trophies. Always. I’ve managed to do that and I’m so grateful for my coaches, my team-mates and the Chelsea supporters for helping me achieve this.”