EX-CHELSEA midfielder John Obi Mikel has terminated his Trabzonspor contract as the Turkish league continues to play amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The 32-year-old criticised the Super Lig on Saturday in an Instagram message that read: “There is more to life than football.”
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After Mikel called on Turkish football authorities to follow the lead of Europe’s biggest leagues, Trabzonspor announced they had parted ways with the Nigerian on Tuesday.
The holding midfielder originally posted a picture of himself in Trabzonspor’s traditional claret and blue kit alongside a caption that read: “There is more to life than football.
“I do not feel comfortable and don’t want to play football in this situation.
“Everyone should be home with their families and loved ones in this critical time.
“Season should be cancelled as the world is facing such turbulent times.”
Games in the country – where former Manchester United man Radamel Falcao plays for Galatasaray – are still going ahead.
But Mikel pulled the plug on his deal which started last year and ran until May 2021.
A Trbzonspor statement read: “The professional football player agreement between our company and John Obi Mikel on 30.06.2019 start date 31.05.2021 has been mutually terminated.
“With a mutual termination agreement, the football player gave up all his forward-looking receivables.”
Mikel also played for Middlesbrough but is best known for his time at Chelsea where he made 368 appearances between 2006 and 2017.
Turkey has had 98 confirmed coronavirus cases so far and one death.
Trabzonspor recently parted ways with another well known former Premier League star after Daniel Sturridge’s contract was terminated after he was given a four-month football ban for betting offences.
