Odion Ighalo has revealed why he took a pay cut to earn his ‘dream move’ to Manchester United, as he provided more details on his 2020 transfer to Old Trafford.
Odion Ighalo caught media attention when he became a potential option for Manchester United in 2020, when Ole Gunnar Solskjær was in charge.
The Nigerian forward made the move to Old Trafford as injuries to Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford left the Reds short on options to spearhead their side.
As a boyhood United fan, Ighalo jumped at the opportunity to sign for United on loan, even taking a pay cut to facilitate his ‘dream move’.
In 23 appearances, Ighalo managed to score five goals, including two in the Europa League, as well as three in the FA Cup, before then returning to Saudi Arabia.
Ighalo’s dream of the Theatre
Ighalo told Ladbrokes, via the Mirror, “I was in pre-season with Shanghai when my name was first mentioned in the Manchester United conversation.
“We were in a training camp, and my agent called me to tell me the club were looking for a striker on loan to cover for Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, who were both out injured.
“Apparently, I was on a list along with about four other players, and from the moment I heard that, I was just so restless.
“I prayed things wouldn’t work out for their other targets so that I could get my dream move to United. As a boy, I was always a huge fan of United, so I was desperate to make the move happen.
“I just remember shivering, the closer the move got. I still didn’t believe any of it until I saw the official proposal from the club, then I knew it was really happening.
Ighalo explains United pay cut
The former United loanee carried on explaining his determination to become a part of United history, stating, “I was going to be a United player. I can remember landing in Manchester and seeing all the reporters everywhere, asking me questions, and that’s when my dream came true.
“I took a pay cut to sign for the club, but I’d have played for them for free, to be honest. When my agent spoke to me about the move, he said United couldn’t afford me because of what I was being paid in China, and all of that.
“I just told him to get the deal done. Whatever they wanted to pay me, I was happy with.
“You know, we’re talking about Manchester United. Manchester United in England… I don’t care what they are paying me… just get the deal done! And that was it.”
Clearly, Ighalo was never going to give up on his United dreams, and, luckily, he didn’t, as he provided much-needed depth during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.
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