Since retiring from his football career, former Nigerian international John Obi Mikel has transitioned into a pundit, often sharing controversial opinions on football.
The former Chelsea midfielder has developed a habit of shocking fans with his outspoken remarks. He recently caused a stir by excluding players like N’Golo Kanté and Casemiro from his list of the world’s top defensive midfielders.
Despite Kanté’s standout performance in France’s recent Euro 2024 match against Austria, Mikel believes he falls short compared to players like Rodri or Busquets. Mikel argued that while Kanté is talented, he hasn’t consistently performed at the highest level over an extended period.
Regarding Casemiro, Mikel placed the Brazilian below Rodri and Busquets without providing a clear explanation, despite Casemiro’s impressive track record at Real Madrid.
“Rodri will remain one of the greatest defensive midfielders. Busquets is the greatest defensive midfielder of all time. N’Golo Kanté shouldn’t be included because he hasn’t been consistently good for long. He had 2 or 3 good seasons. And Casemiro isn’t at the same level as Rodri or Busquets,” stated the former Chelsea player.
Mikel’s comments are likely to generate significant debate in French and Brazilian media, where Kanté and Casemiro are highly regarded.
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