Former captain of the senior national team of Nigeria John Obi Mikel has revealed that Nicholas Jackson snubbed his attempt to have a private conversation with him after criticising him early into last season, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Mikel didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Senegalese striker. “You need a striker who knows how to hit a ball in the back of the net and that’s what we don’t have,” Mikel said after Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City on the opening weekend of last season.
“I know I talk so much about him and sometimes I sound like I disrespect him. I don’t disrespect him. I think at Chelsea Football Club we need a top striker who can get us a goal.”
Jackson replied with an X-rated comment on social media telling the former Chelsea to keep his name out of his mouth. “@mikeljonobi shut your mouth, don’t talk s***, we are killing ourselves for Africa,” Jackson said in a furious Instagram post.
In an interview with TalkSPORT, Mikel revealed that his attempt to have a private conversation with Jackson after his criticism was rejected by the forward who is now on loan to German side Bayern Munich.
“No, no. Listen, I wanted to have a private conversation, but he declined. But fair enough, he didn’t want to speak to me.
“There was nothing there. I just wanted to let him know, as a friend, as someone who played for the football club, just to have an honest conversation.”