How midfielder nearly joined Besiktas

John Obi Mikel nearly joined Turkish side Besiktas this summer before the club pulled out of a deal in the last minute.

The club president Fikret Orman revealed that the Chelsea midfielder had agreed personal terms with them befoer he blocked the last minute move.

“Mikel called us on the last day to say he accepted our offer but we had to weigh up Veli Kavlak returning in one-and-a-half months, with paying out £3.5 million for Mikel, so we pulled out of the deal,” Orman was quoted as saying by Radyospor.

Read: Sunday Oliseh says Jon Obi Mike ignored in London.

After the deal failed to materialise, Mikel  confirmed that he will remain at Chelsea until the expiration of this contract.

"I have two years left on my contract here and want to see them out," Mikel is quoted to say by the London Evening Standard.

"I am happy here and we will see what happens. I do want to stay, the manager wants me to stay so I don't have any issues.

"The manager has told me he wants me to stay. He said that and I'm pretty happy to stay.

Read: It's time for Mikel Obi to Leave Chelsea

"This is going to be my tenth season at the club, next year it will be my 11th. I have been here so long due to the contracts I have signed and I like to be somewhere where I have developed friendships.

"This is like my family now. Every time I come to work it's like coming into see my family.

"I know the whole place, the staff, it is going to be a hard place to leave when my contract runs out and then we will see what happens."