Playing for Man United a dream come true, says Ighalo
Odion Ighalo has spoken more about playing for English Premier League side Manchester United, describing it as a dream come true.
Ighalo, who currently plays for Al Wedha in the Saudi Pro League, joined Manchester United in January 2020 – on loan from Shanghai Shehua in China. He had initially spent three years in England with Watford before moving to China.
From his humble beginnings in Ajegunle to becoming the first and only Nigerian to play for the Red Devils, the 34-year-old, in an exclusive interview with Omasports, said playing at Old Trafford is the “greatest and biggest highlight” of his career.
“Sometimes we dream about something, and sometimes it comes to pass, sometimes it doesn’t,” Ighalo opened up. “For me, it came to pass. I’ve been a Manchester United fan since I was young. I used to pay to go to viewing centers to watch Manchester United, and when they’d lose, I’d be crying and all that.
“So playing for Manchester United was one of the biggest dreams that came true. Being the first Nigerian, the only Nigerian that played for Manchester United—I’m happy, it’s all God. When the opportunity came, I told my agent to forget about everything and broker that deal.
“If someone told me a year before then or ten years before then that you’re going to play for Manchester United, I would say that person is fake. I never believed it.
“Imagine, because then all the odds were against me, you know, playing in China at 30 years old. Playing in China for three years, coming back to the Premier League with a team like Manchester United, so all the odds were against me. But when God wants to do something, He’ll just pick you from nowhere and make you an example and put you up there so people will start thinking. So, it’s all God.
“If I sit down and tell you, I don’t know. I don’t just know, but I just know that I played for Manchester United for one year, and that was the greatest and biggest highlight of my career.”
His children are also fans of football, though they are split between supporting Manchester United and their rival, Manchester City. “When they go to school, people tell them, ‘Your dad is famous for Manchester United.’ Sometimes, when I talk to them, they tell me that,” Ighalo mentioned, sharing that his children are still too young to fully grasp the magnitude of his achievements.
Adjusting to the intensity of the Premier League upon returning from China was no small feat. “You notice the difference because I played in the Premier League before. Yes, for many years before I went to China, I played there for three years. Then, coming back to Manchester United is a big difference.
“I had to step up my game,” Ighalo recalled, speaking of his training sessions at United. “I started working out, doing extra training… because the level there is different.”
Within the dressing room at Old Trafford, Ighalo found camaraderie with all his teammates, including the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard. “Bruno is an amazing guy, very joyful. We were at Udinese together.” he shared. “And Lingard, he’s always so happy and free.”
As the only Nigerian to have played for Manchester United, Ighalo recognizes the significance of his achievement. “Dreams are valid,” he said. “But you have to work hard, stay humble, and never stop learning.
“I think that’s something that a lot of young players can learn from.”
