TheCable

Odion Ighalo, former Super Eagles striker, has adjudged his limited playing chances at Manchester United as “unfair.” 

The 31-year-old joined the Red Devils on a 6-month loan deal from Shanghai Shenhua, a Chinese Super League club, in January 2020. However, an extension was agreed for him to stay at Old Trafford until January 2021.

Ighalo played 23 games for the Red Devils, scoring just five times, while a larger chunk of his appearances were cameos. It left an overall feeling that he wasn’t given enough chances at Old Trafford.

Speaking with Sky Sports on Monday, the striker said it was unfair not to have been afforded more chances to prove his mettle.

Despite acknowledging the fact that he was signed as a backup striker, Ighalo noted that there were certain matches he thought could have gone with his name on the starting lineup.

He, however, expressed his gratitude to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer for having him at the club.

“After my initial loan was extended, I did not play much which was perhaps a bit unfair but as I said, I am always grateful for the opportunity,” Ighalo said.

“When I joined, I always knew I wouldn’t be playing every game because I was signing as a back-up striker so I knew playing time was going to be limited.

“There were certain games where I thought I would play but that’s the decision of the coach and I am not holding anything against anyone.

“I am just grateful to Ole, the fans, my team-mates, and everyone around the club for making me feel at home and I thank God that I played for my dream club and scored goals at Old Trafford.”

The Ajegunle-born footballer also disclosed that he shunned interests from a glut of other suitors, including Tottenham, who were prepared to match his wages, just to play for the Red Devils.

“That was close – my agent called me and told me they [Tottenham] had offered to match whatever I was earning but once I heard Manchester United were interested, there was no turning back,” he said.

“I couldn’t think about anything else other than making the Manchester United deal work. I was going to have to take a pay cut but I didn’t care, I just wanted the deal to happen.

“I just wanted to play for Manchester United. It’s my dream club and it was always going to be a privilege for me to play at Old Trafford.I’m just so grateful to God that it happened. Every day I wake up and I know that I am an ex-Manchester United player. It is something that I will never take for granted.”

Ighalo has since joined Al-Shabab, Saudi Arabian side, shortly after the loan deal expired in January 2021.