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Nigerian legend John Obi Mikel and his podcast crew visited his former boss Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, Spain.
Nigerian football legend John Obi Mikel has shared heartwarming details about his visit to the training ground of the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid, where he reunited with his former Chelsea boss, Carlo Ancelotti.
Speaking on his latest podcast, the former Super Eagles captain offered an exclusive glimpse into his encounter with the legendary Italian manager.
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Mikel Obi’s warm welcome at Real Madrid
The Nigerian legend, who played under Ancelotti during the latter's tenure at Chelsea, expressed admiration for the Real Madrid coach's humility and warmth.
"Mr Don - [Carlo] Ancelotti. Fantastic. I mean such a wonderful human being after everything he has achieved and still wants to achieve, he's so humble," Mikel said.
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After the visit to Spain, the former midfielder looking to go into management revealed that Ancelotti personally invited him to Santiago Bernabeu when the team returned from their holidays.
Mikel admitted to initially feeling uncertain about whether the meeting would materialise, but was pleasantly surprised by the well-organised reception he received.
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"Everything was all sorted - from the hotel we went straight to the training ground, gave us everything, looked after us really well, took us to the waiting room and from there to his office. It was so well-planned," Mikel recounted.
In a touching gesture that stood out to Mikel, Ancelotti insisted on making him coffee, something he had never done during their time together at Chelsea.
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"He said no no, sit down there I will make you coffee. And he's like this is Italian coffee," Mikel shared, emphasising the personal touch of the interaction.
On Ancelotti's egoless demeanour
Mikel described Ancelotti who made history with Real Madrid as a father figure, praising the manager's relaxed and egoless demeanour despite his impressive achievements.
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"A man who has won so much, the most successful European manager, won all the European trophies, he's won in all five major countries. He's won the Premier League, and the ego is nowhere to be found," Mikel observed.
The Nigerian star concluded by highlighting Ancelotti's openness and willingness to offer advice, further cementing the Italian's reputation as one of football's most respected and beloved figures.
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This encounter provides a keen look into Ancelotti's character off the pitch but also demonstrates the lasting impact he has on players long after their professional relationships have ended.
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