John Obi Mikel: “My dad got kidnapped while I was playing for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.”
“We were about to play against Argentina. Two hours before the game I got a phone call from my brother saying my dad got kidnapped.”
“The first time he was kidnapped was shocking, but the second time was even more shocking because I was about to go into one of the biggest games of my life.”
“I couldn’t leave the room. I couldn’t tell anybody. I was alone in the room for about 30 minutes, thinking what am I going to do?"
“But we’re about to go into the biggest game of our lives. We’re about to play against Lionel Messi and Argentina.”
“Chelsea were very supportive. I remember Roman Abramovich saying ‘do you want me to send people over? Because I know if I send people over, I can get your dad out’ — I was like, how are you going to do this?”
“He said don’t worry about that. Just let me know if you want that option, I can do it.”
(@talkSPORT)
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Shame Roman can’t get his assets back off the UK government so easily
Not a shame at all. The guys a real life bond villain
It’s not about being an oligarch, it’s about having connections with men with guns.
So…. An oligarch
There’s not exclusive to oligarchs lmao.
*people with too much money
If Roman says he’s going to send men over they’re not going to come with lollipops and balloons
Why doesn’t John Obi just live in the US? Then he has 100 million helpers.
downside is, you get kidnapped and forced to play for them
lol
Like that story from Michael Owen about when John Terry called Roman as the England squad were caught in a queue of planes in Russia and could have been stuck for a few hours
https://x.com/GraceOnFootball/status/1387648639108108288?s=20
I don’t know which airport this was at, but I do know that Abramovich has some kind of direct relationship with one of the two main airports - his son had a monopoly on the de-icing business there (which is an important function given the weather in Russia!).
A lot of private security for the ultra rich are former special forces or mercenaries (the same defense contractors used by countries). They have access to almost everything you could think of.
if they sent over a private security team of former Spetsnaz guys I would feel bad for the kidnappers.
And the hostages.
Ok, but what happened to the dad? I’m a dad and now invested in the story!
Yes! We need the rest of the story!
On 12 August 2011, Mikel’s father, Michael Obi, was the victim of a suspected kidnapping in Nigeria. Mikel was informed before Chelsea’s match against Stoke City two days later but opted to play despite his concerns for his father’s well-being. On 15 August 2011, Mikel made an impassioned plea for his father’s safe return. He told Sky Sports News, "I’ve always tried to help the country, this is the time for the country to help me, whoever knows where my dad is should please contact me."Michael Obi was found alive on 22 August 2011, in the Nigerian city of Kano. His abductors were reported to be in police custody. On 26 June 2018, a few hours before a World Cup match, Mikel was informed of another kidnapping of Michael Obi, but did not tell any of his team members. The Enugu State Police stated that they rescued Michael Obi on 2 July after a gunfight.
From Wikipedia
I saw a show with a bit on Abramovich. It said in the 80s Russia had the aluminium wars, where owners of aluminum smelters were murdering each other. He was the only person who survived. Take from that what you will.
That’s interesting can you share the link of the video.
Abramovich had zero involvement with oligarchs in the 1980s.
He actually started as a security provider for them, which put him in the inner circle of a bunch of oligarchs, then at some point he realized that he could just take over the companies himself and they wouldn’t be able to stop him lol
He was 20 in the 1980s
For the whole decade?
Not the only one, but he did handle it smartly- he merged his assets with the eventual ‘winner’, Oleg Deripaska.
Something he seemed to do unusually well in Russia was co-operate with other key players, rather than end up in conflict. It was a similar story with his steel business too.
Apparently he was personally very amicable by nature - a rarity amongst the oligarchs - but he also had political links to the Yeltsin clan who had played a big role in establishing Putin and so he had a smooth continuity of patronage.
He has genuine warmth for a Russian
Handy lad. Stuck in airport? Call Roman. Father got kidnapped? Call Roman.
Want to go bowling? Call Roman
Wonder how many of the men Abramovich would have sent are hamburger meat in Ukraine now.
I mean Roman probably has hit squads/special forces on speed dial. I wouldn’t trust russian operators to actually save hostages though…
Wayne Bridge told a story on a podcast that when he was at Chelsea they were away for a CL match and he got injured before the actual match. He said Roman picked him up in his private plane and flew him back to England getting served drinks by women who looked like supermodels.
That first Chelsea team under Roman lived like Kings tbh
Roman the Scorpio.
I mean Román probably could just call Wagner back in 2018
That’s cool af
If Roman sent his guys there, Mikels dad would be free and the kidnappers would probably be kidnapped.