NIGERIAN striker Odion Ighalo has revealed how he turned down offers from other Premier League clubs to join Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab after leaving Manchester United in January.
The former Super Eagles star in a wide-ranging interview with Sky Sports also opened up about his time at Manchester United, the influence of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the temperament of Paul Pogba and his love for the Red Devils among other issues.
When he was asked if there were offers from other clubs before he opted for Al Shabab, Ighalo mentioned two English clubs and explained why he did not sign for any of them.
“Yeah, there was the possibility of West Ham and West Brom to stay in the Premier League, which I thought about,” the 31-year-old admitted.
“But after being at Manchester United, the biggest club in England if not the world, what else could I possibly do in the Premier League?
“I had good offers to stay in England, but I just didn’t think I could stay after achieving my dream of playing for the club I had supported since I was young.
“I came all the way from China because it was Manchester United when I had already rejected other offers because United has always been my dream.”
He also confirmed reports that he was close to joining Tottenham Hotspur before the Manchester United offer came late in January 2020.
“That was close – my agent called me and told me they had offered to match whatever I was earning but once I heard Manchester United were interested, there was no turning back,” Ighalo explained.
“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.
“I’m very proud (to be the first Nigerian to play for Manchester United), because playing for Manchester United has raised my profile and people are now talking about me more.
“Going back to Nigeria, people still want Manchester United jerseys today, even though I am not playing for Manchester United anymore!
“Sometimes I have to order some shirts from Manchester to give to people over there – that’s how big and how privileged I am to play for such a great club.
“Being the first Nigerian to play for Manchester United is great. If I keep talking about it, then I will get emotional, I’m just so happy.”
Ighalo said he enjoyed all his time at Manchester United despite not getting much playing time and picked out his best moment.
He also praised Solskjaer for the way he handled the players.
“Absolutely everything!” he said when asked to name his best moment at Old Trafford.
“Just waking up every morning and going into training at Carrington was a thing of joy.
“Meeting the lads, laughing, talking, going inside the dressing room for training and games… every moment is one I am going to cherish.
“But probably the greatest moment was when I scored my first goal at Old Trafford in front of the fans.
“Playing for the club, scoring my first goal, and scoring at Old Trafford – all my dreams have come true.
“I used to pay money to watch Manchester United on TV and I still sometimes sit down and just watch my goals and some of the videos from the dressing room and all the laughing. It just keeps me going and always makes me happy.
“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.
“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 (Gunnar Solskjaer), 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.
“He (Ole) knows how to manage the boys and talks to you, especially when you are not playing.
“He’s a good guy, a calm guy, and I never saw him get angry – perhaps during a game when we were losing but the day after that it was totally forgotten because the next game was always more important than the last one.
“I have massive respect and time for him and thanks to him, I had the opportunity to play for Manchester United. Without him, that would not have been possible, so I am always grateful to him, no matter what.
“He’s an intelligent coach. Tactically he’s good but with a team like Manchester United, a big team with a lot of good players, everyone wants to play.
“So sometimes it’s difficult for the coach but he understands that and when you have a coach who can manage that, then it is really good.”
The man that effectively replaced Ighalo at United, Edinson Cavani, has had an impressive time but the Uruguay striker is considering leaving at the end of the season.
Ighalo wishes the former Paris Saint-Germain striker would stay longer.
He said: “Every player has a different ambition, different needs, and needs to decide what they have to do. He’s a good player and a good striker, there’s no doubt about that and if the opportunity comes up to go somewhere else, then that’s fine.
“But for me – this is the team I have supported from being a child so I would always take the option of staying.
“Whatever decision he makes though, I wish him all the best and good luck to him.”
Ighalo had nothing but positive comments to make about Paul Pogba when asked about the France midfielder who has often divided opinion among United fans.
“He’s one of the best players I’ve played with and one of the best players at Manchester United,” Ighalo said.
“Apart from playing on the pitch, he’s a good guy in the dressing room, a funny guy, he’s always happy.
“The only time he isn’t happy is when he’s not playing and I can understand that – everyone wants to play.
“If Manchester United have the opportunity to keep him on a new, longer deal, they should because he is so influential.
“Sometimes he doesn’t have the best of games but that’s normal, you can’t be 100% in every game but when he turns up, like he did yesterday against Tottenham, he is exceptional.”
United are 11 points behind their city rivals Manchester City at the top of the league with the season winding down. Ighalo hopes a ‘miracle’ will make his former club catch up with Pep Guardiola’s side.
“Well, there’s six or seven more games to go,” he said.
“It’s difficult as I can’t see City losing three games from six before the end of the season. It’s going to be tough, but I pray a miracle can happen and Manchester United can win the League.”
The former Watford striker says he is happy in Saudi Arabia and revealed his plans after retirement.
“I’m enjoying it, that’s the most important thing – the fans love me and I am enjoying my time in a different country, a different league and culture.
“We’re top of the league at the moment so hopefully we can keep going and win it.
“I’ve played in six or seven different countries now and I enjoy my football, so who knows the next destination! I’m not afraid to go to a new country, a new league, a new culture, and learn a new language. I’m ready for whatever opportunity.
“I’d love to still be involved in football (after active playing days), maybe an agent or a coach but let’s see what happens.”
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