Odion Ighalo confirms role in Troost-Ekong Watford move

Manchester United striker, Odion Ighalo has disclosed that Super Eagles teammate, William Troost-Ekong sought his opinion before concluding his move to Watford.

He said that he encouraged the Super Eagles vice-captain to team up with the Hornets.

This comes after he[Troost-Ekong] ended his two-year spell at Italian Serie A side Udinese and subsequently signed a five year deal with Watford.

According to Soccernet.ng, many were surprised after Troost-Ekong decided to leave the top European, Udinese to join Watford at the Skybet Championship.

But it is an open secret that the Pozzo family owns both Udinese and Watford. And they had reportedly sent Troost-Ekong to England to help the latter regain their top-flight status following their relegation from the Premier League, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ekong had his doubts about the deal, though, and asked Ighalo – who spent two-and-a-half years at Watford – for his views.

The ex-Super Eagles striker talked up the English club as one of the ‘best family clubs’ and encouraged Ekong to sign up.

“Ekong is a nice guy, I know him from the national team, and he played in Udinese too, like I played in Udinese,” Ighalo told Watford’s official website.

“Before he came to Watford, he sent me messages saying Gino wanted him to come to Watford. Gino told him how I came from Granada to help the team gain promotion to the Premier League and wants him to do the same thing.

“I told him he had to go to Watford, that Watford is one of the best family clubs. I played there for two-and-a-half years and had an amazing time, they took care of me and had no problems. He said okay and that he would think about it.

“I’m happy for him and happy he’s doing well, that’s the most important thing. I hope Watford keep doing well and gain promotion to the Premier League because that’s where they belong.”

Ighalo, 31, scored 39 goals in 100 appearances for Watford before leaving the club for the Chinese Super League.

Both Ighalo and Troost-Ekong were prominent members of the Nigerian squad that earned a bronze medal at the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament hosted by Egypt.