Manchester United face huge twist in Odion Ighalo pursuit
By Bence Bocsak
According to the latest reports Manchester United’s pursuit of Odion Ighalo might not be as clear cut as it previously seemed.
When Odion Ighalo grinned and lifted his number twenty-five jersey to pose for a photo and confirm his arrival at Manchester United, he made history.
Nigeria may have produced some of the best African footballing talent over the years from the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, but they had never produced a player for United.
Despite the Red Devils having a large fanbase in the country, Odion Ighalo became the first Nigerian to represent the club.
More from Red Devil Armada
- Aaron Wan Bissaka out for ‘several weeks’ with injury
- Manchester United break an unwanted record after Brighton loss
- Sofyan Amrabat set to miss game against Brighton
- Preview: Manchester United vs Brighton – What you need to know
- Jadon Sancho set to train away from first team squad
And while the news was greeted with euphoria in his home country, everywhere else in the world, people raised an eyebrow and frowned.
Odion Ighalo?
He is thirty. He had spent almost three years in the Chinese supe6r league. He had one good season in the Premier League.
The Red Devils’ rivals snickered in contempt.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had glimpsed something within the forward. Something which the Red Devils could harness in their quest to overturn their fortunes.
Ighalo was hungry to succeed. He had been a boyhood United fan and moving to Old Trafford had been a dream come true.
During his first few appearances at the club, he must have had to pinch himself.
His hard-work in the gym and in training did not go unnoticed. But until, Odion Ighalo proved himself on the pitch the scepticism remained.
It is fair to say much of the scepticism has now vanished into oblivion. Eight games into his United career, the Nigerian forward already has four goals, and he has scored in every single one of his starts for the club.
Now, the United fans are desperate for Odion Ighalo to make his stay permanent at Old Trafford.
It is a move which seemed fairly straight forward until the emergence of the latest report by Sky Sports.
The English news outlet has claimed that Ighalo’s current parent club, Shanghai Shenhua are prepared to offer the Nigerian a new contract in the region of £400,000 per week. That would make Ighalo one of the highest earners in world football and it is a figure United are unlikely to match.
The choice will be up to the Nigerian. Will he go for the money or opt for his heart?
Next. Has Sancho finally confirmed his move to United?. dark
What would you do if you were Odion Ighalo?