Ighalo vows to push Manchester United higher after extending deal

Former Super Eagles player, Odion Ighalo has stated that he will do his best to push Manchester United to greater heights in the English Premier League.

Ighalo had his loan deal with Manchester United extended till January 2021 after his club Shanghai Shenhua of China agreed terms.

The 30-year old has now expressed excitement that he has been given the chance to represent the club he had always supported from childhood.

“I'm really happy. It's a dream for me to be here. I'm buzzing and ready to go,” Ighalo told MUTV on Tuesday.

“The last few days have been difficult as there have been different talks about it but now I'm really happy so I need to concentrate fully. I'm here until the end of January, so it's good for me.

“I decided I want to stay and I'm happy. Since the first day I arrived, I made it clear that I wanted whatever it takes to continue that work. It was very difficult, there were some talks, but I'm happy they finally agreed and got everything done. Everything is official now.

“I'm sending thanks to the Shanghai president and director for the support because they know this is what I want. So I'm thanking them and I'm happy that this has happened. They wish me all the best too.

“Like I've said, since I was young, I've been supporting this club and playing for it is a dream. Now I've extended my loan, it makes it even more clear and I'm committed as I know, in my head, I'm here until January ending. I just want to work hard and enjoy it, support the team and do whatever I can to make us go higher and higher.”

“It's different from where I'm coming from and different to where I was before,” he said. “It's something I've never seen before and it makes me wonder if I'm dreaming or it's reality.”

"I'm getting better and better every day," he told the club's website. "We have been training together the past two weeks now, so it's getting close to the game. The sharpness is coming, the fitness is coming and everything is going well.

Ighalo also revealed how his training at Manchester United has been affected by COVID-19.

"It's been strange, you know, because you have to stay two metres apart to talk to your team-mates. Sometimes, you need to get close to give them some signs but now it's two metres and it's kind of strange.

"But this is what we have to do for us to be safe and for the game to go on. We are ready to do it and we're happy to do it. Everybody is looking good. Running, working hard and playing football. Little two-a-sides and doing some ball work.

"Everyone is getting better and better. Everyone is back, even Paul is back training normally and Rashy is back training as normal. Everyone is training normally and training full and all that, so the squad is full and everyone is ready, I think.

"I can't wait for the league to start again. I'm really looking forward to it. We're working hard and I believe we're going to do great."