By Daily Sports on May 18, 2020
Brazilian club Botafogo have explained why they prefer Nigeria legend John Obi Mikel over Ivorian superstar Yaya Toure.
The Brazilian Serie A giants are looking to beef up their squad with the services of an experienced central midfielder.
Mikel, who is a free agent after leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor two months ago, has been linked with Botafogo having turned 33 last month.
While 37-year-old Toure is currently on the books of Chinese Super League club Qingdao Huanghai.
Ricardo Rotenberg, the Botafogo vice president of Finance and Marketing, explained that they rate Mikel higher than ageing Toure on the pitch.
“I talked last week with the two players and with their managers, too. Negotiations continue and only the salary part has not yet been settled,” Rotenberg told ESPN Brazil.
However, the club official explained that former FC Barcelona and Manchester City star Toure is more marketable and he is popular with the fans.
“With Yaya we would gain a lot in terms of marketing and with the fans. With Mikel, the gain would be stronger on the pitch.”
The 2020 Brazilian Serie A season has been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. (ESPN)
•PHOTO: Mikel Obi
Source Daily Sports
Posted May 18, 2020
You may also like...
Mikel Explains Trabzonspor Exit, Puts Family First
Ahmed Musa marks mum’s fourth death anniversary
Edo FA Suspends All Football Activities
Confidence back for Arsenal ahead of Hull clash...
EPL Thriller: Man United, City in ‘do-or-die’ derby...
Serie A Recommends Wage Cuts For Players
CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations
Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja
Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns
Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports
NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death
_3.jpg)
Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia
Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket
Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket
Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers
Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua
Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan
Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,164 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,308 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,744 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,312 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,507 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,932 views)