Super Eagles forward Jude Odion Ighalo reflects on his time at Manchester United as the pinnacle of his career. The Al-Wehda striker describes playing at Old Trafford as a dream come true, despite facing improbable odds leading up to his transfer.
“I’ve been a Manchester United fan since I was young,” he shared with Oma Sports TV. “Playing at Old Trafford is one of the biggest dreams that came true for me. I’m proud to be the first and only Nigerian to play for Manchester United.”
Reflecting on the miraculous nature of his transfer, Ighalo admitted, “All the odds were against me: 30 years old, playing in China for three years, then returning to the Premier League with a team like Manchester United. But when God wants to do something, he can lift you from nowhere and elevate you.”
“I don’t know how the deal happened,” he confessed. “It was all God. If someone had told me a year or ten years earlier, I wouldn’t have believed it. Playing for Manchester United for one year was the greatest highlight of my career.”
In January 2020, Ighalo joined Manchester United on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, initially until the end of the 2019-20 season. The loan was later extended until January 2021.
