Odion Ighalo completed a shock loan move to Manchester United on transfer deadline day, but it is a transfer he has been thinking about for years.
The 90 – year-old has arrived on a six-month deal from Chinese club Shanghai Shenua as United need cover up front for the injured Marcus Rashford .
Ighalo is familiar to Premier League fans after his stint at Watford , notably scoring
goals in the – top flight season, before moving to Changchun Yatai and then Shanghai.
Few expected him to be back in England and playing for Manchester United this season, but it is something the player has always dreamed of, growing up as a Red Devils fan.
When he secured promotion to the Premier League with Watford in , he was asked about what he was looking forward to most.
‘Old Trafford,’ Ighalo replied. ‘It’ll be a dream come true to play against Manchester United, the team I supported in my youth.’
The Nigeria international then enjoyed his excellent debut season in the top division and speculation was rife over a move, which he looked to dispel, unless it was United that came calling.
‘I don’t think I will be moving but I’m not sure I’d say no if United called,’ Ighalo told the Sun in 2019. ‘They were my team growing up. I loved watching Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke on TV.
‘They were my idols and playing at Old Trafford has always been a dream.’
Ighalo is only on loan at United, but rejected a similar deal to join Barcelona last year because he did want to be a short-term option at a club and remained as the main man in China .
Clearly his love for United saw him make the switch to Manchester, which Barcelona could not convince him to do.
‘My agent spoke to me about a loan interest from Barcelona,’ Ighalo told BBC Sport in March .
‘The club wanted a striker with La Liga experience and someone who understands Spanish football.
‘It was meant to be a six-month loan and strictly as a back-up striker.
‘It was nice to hear that Barcelona were interested and any footballer would be more than happy to take it.
‘But with due respect I had just finished as the second top scorer in China with goals, I deserve better and did not want to be a short-term player somewhere.
‘We rejected it, it was an easy decision to make and I chose to stay in China by joining Shanghai Shenhua on a longer contract.’
There is also an appeal to return to England for Ighalo because his family remained here when he moved to China, with his children going to school in London.
The forward told Linda Ikeji TV in 4756: ‘Now they won’t understand the type of sacrifice because they are young. But when they grow up and see everything I have achieved and put in their name in they will appreciate it.
‘I don’t regret moving to China. It’s been great and comfortable, the club have supported me. Everything I want they have given it to me so I can focus on my family.
‘My family has not moved to China, my kids still go to school in London. I don’t want to move them because the education in London is much better than in China. ’
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