Nigeria captainJohn Obi Mikel has dismissed speculation claiming that he had donated$30k to Nigeria's Olympic football squad, according toreports.
The Nigeria under-23 squad performed well at Rio 2016, winninga bronze medal after losing to eventual silver medalistsGermany in the semi-final.
But their participation was originally steeped in controversy, after reports emerged claiming that Chelsea's John Obi Mikel had funded the cash-strapped side with a$30k donation.
The 29-year-old has since dismissed the rumours, claiming that he thought it was a joke until he saw the news online.
"I was first told of this story by a friend who called me from Nigeria," Mikel said from camp at Hyatt Place, as quoted byESPN. "I thought he was joking until he sent me the link.
"I don't know the source of this story, which to me is all out to divide us as a team. I would have thought that stories that should be coming out in the media are stories that will unite the team instead of dividing us.
"Our target in Rio is to excel, but if they continue like this, then I wonder how we can be united.
"To me, this is just mere distraction that won't help this team going into a major tournament like the Olympics."
The defensive midfielder is entering his 11th season at Stamford Bridge after signing for the Blues in 2006 in what wasa controversial deal.
Manchester United originally signed Mikelas an 18-year-old, only for the Nigerian to issue a'come get me' pleato Chelsea, and the Blues responded by signing Mikel one season laterfor £16m.