Manchester United have today confirmed that Odion Ighalo will extend his loan with the club until January after agreeing a new deal with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. There had been worries that he would return to China for their new season after his loan period with us had reached an end. This would mean he only had the opportunity to play nine games since making his dream move to United. However, Ighalo is now set to see out the current season with us as well as start next season.
The Nigerian striker scored four goals in his last three starts, including his fantastic strike against LASK in the Europa League before the season was suspended.
He had been signed to help get United through the season after Marcus Rashford’s injury set to make him unavailable for the rest of the campaign. As it is, Rashford is now fit, so Ighalo’s stay ensures United are even stronger up front.
They’ll be nobody happier than the player himself though, having taken a paycut to fulfil his long-term wish of signing for United.
Ahead of United’s 2-0 win over City, the last Premier League game we played, Ighalo spoke about what the club meant to him.
“I know many footballers say that, when they sign for a team, this is my dream team. Respect to that but my own case was different,” he said. “Anyone who knows me back from when I was young knows me and my siblings supported Man United, we would pay to go and watch Man United play.”
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