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Sports News of Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

I took a pay cut to join United - Odion Ighalo

Ighalo is expected to feature in Man. Utd's next game at Chelsea Ighalo is expected to feature in Man. Utd's next game at Chelsea

Nigerian striker, Odion Jude Ighalo, has revealed the sacrifice he had to make to join Manchester United.

United were desperate for a striker following the injury to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial's deep loss of form. Ighalo was the club's last option after a sluggish January transfer.

While speaking during his first United interview, the 30-year-old revealed how he and his agent were up all night to ensure the deal didn't fall through.

According to reports, Ighalo agreed to a pay cut of £165,000 a week. He was reportedly receiving £300k in Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, China.

"A few other clubs had shown interest, I said: 'Please, just pick United, if it's going to be possible,'" he said.

He said, "At 11pm in Shanghai, my agent called me [to say] that United want to do the deal, so I woke up that night and started looking for a translator to go to the directors' room and hit his door.

"'My agent wants to speak to you. United are coming for me, you have to make this happen."

"I told my agent 'this is what I want. I want to come here'," added Ighalo.

"He said: 'You're going to get a pay cut to go to United.'

"I said: 'I don't care. Make this deal happen. I want to go to United. I don't care how much is the pay cut, I know that, make it happen.'"

"I called my mum and she was happy, crying," he said.

"I know many people used to say when they join a team, they say that they dream of playing for that team. Mine was not the case. I supported the team when I was young.

"People that know me, even back in Nigeria, and even when I was playing at Watford, my team-mates knew that I loved Manchester United, I support them."

Ighalo hopes his physicality can aid the United forward line.

"I'm very fast, I'm skilful, I'm strong, I have good techniques, so I can find my way in the field of play," he said.

"They have a striker that stays mostly in the middle, but Martial likes to come from the side, even Rashford, so you need someone in the middle that can keep the ball, hold the ball.

"They need a physicality up front to keep the ball, to give and to make some movement, which I believe if everything goes well I can add to the team."

BBC