Odion Ighalo has opened up on his shock move to Manchester United five years ago.
Ighalo, 35, joined the Red Devils on loan on deadline day in January 2020 amid an injury crisis that saw both Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial set for spells on the sideline.
The striker, who was playing in the Chinese Super League for Shanghai Shenhua at the time, had previous experience in the Premier League at Watford, with Ighalo scoring 15 top flight goals during the 2015-16 season.
However, after struggling in the following campaign he joined Changchun Yatai in China and spent three years in the Far East.
After moving to Old Trafford under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ighalo, who was a boyhood United fan, repeatedly spoke about fulfilling his ‘dreams’ by playing for the club.
He failed to score a Premier League goal during his spell – which was subsequently extended to January 2021 – but he did net five times in 23 appearances in all competitions.
And, speaking to Nigerian Women’s star Rasheedat Ajibade, Ighalo revealed how the transfer came about.
“My agent called me that Man United wanted a striker on loan because Martial and Rashford were injured and they needed a back-up striker,” he reflected.
“I said what team? Did you say Manchester United? And he said they have like four options of strikers (to sign) and you are the third option and all that.
“I started praying against those other options and I said those other options will not work.”
It had been widely reported at the time that United were in for then-Bournemouth striker Josh King, who was a former academy product at Old Trafford, while they also had an interest in ex-Newcastle, Everton and West Brom striker Salomon Rondon.
They were similarly linked to Leicester flop Islam Slimani in what proved to be a chaotic transfer search.
However, Rondon’s club Dalian Yifang turned down United’s loan offer, while Bournemouth also rejected a £20m bid for King and Leicester wanted a £4m loan fee for Slimani, meaning the club settled on Ighalo.
“I prayed and prayed and prayed,” Ighalo continued. “And two days after, my agent called me and said they wanted to go for me because the other options are not working and I said thank you God, thank you God.
“I still did not believe my eyes. When I saw the offer they sent, the letter… on Man United-headed paper, goose pimples came out from my body.”
Ighalo’s move to China had come during the boom of the CSL when astronomical wages were being handed out, with one report claiming that the 35-year-old was on £400,000-a-week at Shanghai.
And Ighalo went onto explain how the finances of his move to United worked, explaining that he was determined to make the transfer no matter what.
“I played three years in China,” he added.
“I went back to the UK in the Premier League with Man United.
“That deal was a dream come true for me because I’m a core Man United fan. So when that deal came, nothing anybody was talking about was entering my ears.’
Ighalo continued, “I got a paycut to go to Manchester but I just didn’t care. I told my agent, just make the deal work.
“Even if they don’t give me any money to play for Man United, I just want to wear that jersey.”
While Ighalo’s impact at United was minimal, he was well-liked by supporters given his work-rate and clear affection for the club.
He subsequently moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab after his stint at Old Trafford and has gone on to represent Al-Hilal and Al-Wehda in the Saudi Pro League.
