Nicolas Jackson declined to have a private conversation with me – John Obi Mikel

Former Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed that Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson turned down his attempt to have a private discussion following his public criticism of the striker last season.

Mikel, who spent over a decade at Stamford Bridge, had been outspoken about Jackson’s inconsistent finishing during his debut campaign in the Premier League.

The criticism led to a brief social media spat between the pair, after which Jackson opted not to engage further.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Mikel explained that he had reached out to Jackson in an effort to clear the air but the Bayern Munich striker declined the offer.

“No, no. Listen, I wanted to have a private conversation, but he declined,” Mikel said. “But fair enough, he didn’t want to speak to me. There was nothing there.

“I just wanted to let him know, as a friend, as someone who played for the football club, just to have an honest conversation.”

The former Super Eagles captain emphasised that there was no lingering tension between them and that his comments had been misinterpreted.

“We’re all good now. Obviously he left the club… Listen, there was nothing there between me and Nicolas Jackson,” he added.

“I was just saying the obvious. I like him as a player. People always talk about the negative, they never talk about what else I say.”

Mikel went on to praise Jackson’s overall contribution to Chelsea’s attack during his time in London, describing him as a talented and dynamic forward.

“He’s a fantastic player, he’s a brilliant player,” Mikel continued.

“His link-up play with Cole Palmer, his partnership with the team, the way he brings people into play, he links up really, really well. His pace, running in behind… they never talk about all that.”

Jackson joined Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window on loan from Chelsea.