Africa Press-Nigeri
It was not so long ago that Nigeria legend John Obi Mikel was seemingly on his way to Botafogo, with reports that the midfielder had all but agreed a deal with the legendary Brazilian club.
But with Botafogo under financial strain, made even worse by the coronavirus outbreak, that move never came to fruition, and five months later, the former Nigeria captain has joined Stoke City in the English Championship.
Unexpected as it was, the move makes sense from both the player’s and the club’s perspectives.
Stoke were among the favorites for promotion to the Premier League last season, but a miserable run of eight points from their first 15 games saw them heading in the opposite direction.
Manager Nathan Jones was fired and Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill swapped international football for the day to day excitement of the Championship.
O’Neill quickly racked up 34 points from 22 games, to set heady hopes of even reaching the playoff places. It was not to be — those early struggles proved too damaging — but the foundations and been laid and the Potters once again want to be in the reckoning for promotion when the season rolls back around.
To do so, they needed the right pieces at the right price, and O’Neill is putting it all together. Left back Morgan Fox signed on a free from Sheffield Wednesday, as did experienced striker Steven Fletcher. James Chester, who was on a one-year loan deal from Aston Villa, was signed on to a permanent contract.
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