'Pathetic!' - Chelsea fans turn on 'hypocrite' John Obi Mikel after legendary midfielder pulls U-turn on outcast Nicolas Jackson

A year ago, the former Nigeria international got into a feud with Jackson after saying the forward did not know how to "hit a ball in the back of the net". The former Villarreal angrily clapped back at the ex-midfielder but now, Mikel has come to the aid of the 24-year-old - who has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit.

The Nigerian prefaced by saying that Chelsea need "competition" for places to get the best out of each other. Therefore, he wants Jackson to stay and duke it out with fellow forwards Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

He said on the Obi One Podcast: "I am hearing that Nicolas Jackson wants to leave. I hope he [Jackson] stays because I still think he has a massive part to play this season. He’s a fantastic player, the qualities and what he brings to this football club. I think we need that. If he stays, I am very happy."

@BuFahadCFC wrote on X about Mikel: "You are so hypocritical," and @passevertical added: "After being one of the reasons why there’s so much incoherent scrutiny around him, he pulls this one out. Pathetic."

@BiggiekingX tweeted: "Lol he been hating on him for months now wants him to stay."

@BlueCoHQ commented: "Not the same stuff he was saying couple months back innit."

And @EnzoSZN_CFC put: "Didn’t take him long to back track. Brother realized we’re not upgrading on him. Not only that we have UCL football this year. We have a ton of foolish people in this fanbase."

Despite Mikel's new plea, Jackson is not part of head coach Enzo Maresca's plans at Chelsea. The Blues are trying to get a big fee for the Senegalese international amid interest from Aston Villa. Whether they get that, though, is up in the air.

While Jackson, whose Chelsea contract runs until 2033, will try to leave the west London outfit before the transfer window shuts on September 1, Maresca's team take on local rivals West Ham in the Premier League on Friday night.