Odion Ighalo transfer to Manchester United

Premier League giants Manchester United signed Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo right before the transfer deadline. It was reported that Manchester United and the Nigerian’s parent club Shanghai Shenhua agreed a loan deal of 4 million pounds, with no option to buy.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been linked with a host of potential signings following the unfortunate injury to talisman Marcus Rashford, and the under-par performance of Antoine Martial. A one-year deal for veteran Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been mooted before the much-traveled striker signed for Italian giants AC Milan.

There were also reports linking United to Edinson Cavani of PSG, but the Uruguayan was reportedly interested in rejoining Atletico Madrid where it all began. Going into the January transfer deadline, Ighalo was an outsider with Betway online sports betting, so his loan move may have been one of the biggest surprises of the season.

Dream move

Ighalo is a lifelong Manchester United fan, and he did confirm that he took a massive pay cut to seal his dream move to the Premier League. He possesses above-average premier league experience, from his time at Watford where he finished as the club’s top scorer for two consecutive seasons. He hopes to do even better in a red shirt this time, and to repay the faith shown to him by the Manchester hierarchy.

“When we were young back in Nigeria, we used to watch the Premier League on TV a lot, where the likes of Andy Cole used to play. People support Man United a lot back there in Nigeria, so I developed that love, because all my siblings, they are Manchester United fans.” Said the Nigerian international.

“I never thought this was going to happen, but dreams do come true, so I’m very happy to be here and this is going to be a big and good challenge for me in my career.”

Ighalo, 30, was in scintillating form in the recent Africa Cup of Nations tournament when he emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with 5 goals. He led the line as the Super eagles finished third behind Algeria and Senegal in the continental championship staged in Egypt. He beat the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane, and Mohammed Salah who were tipped by Betway to be the leading candidates for the top scorer award.

Manchester United has been a subject of failed transfer bids, most famously, the failed attempt to secure Erling Haaland, the former RB Salzburg striker who snubbed United for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. Questions have been raised over the club’s transfer structures, with fans voicing their concerns amid continuous transfer failures.

Some have already labeled the Ighalo transfer as an act of desperation, but it is only a matter of time before the former Watford man can be tasked with leading the line for the former EPL champions.

In an unfortunate incidence, Ighalo is currently training alone back in Manchester following stringent measures to monitor persons who have been to China in the last 14 days following the Coronavirus outbreak. The rest of the squad is enjoying winter break in Spain.

Leave a Reply