'It's my dream club... but it was UNFAIR I didn't play more!': Odion Ighalo on why he left Old Trafford, turning down West Brom and West Ham's offers to stay in the Premier League - and why Man United must keep 'influential' Paul Pogba

  • Odion Ighalo joined Manchester United on loan in last year's January window 
  • His loan was extended until January this year, when he left for Al Shabab 
  • The former Nigeria striker scored five goals in 23 games for the Old Trafford side
  • He turned down other top-flight offers and urged the club to keep Paul Pogba 

Odion Ighalo insists he is 'so happy' he was able to represent Manchester United but admits he left his dream club due to a lack of game time.

The 31-year-old joined from Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in January last year on an initial six-month loan.

The former Watford striker's deal was then extended in June 2020 until January this year, when he left for Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab after scoring five goals in 23 appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men.

Odion Ighalo has revealed he is happy to have played for Manchester United but admitted a lack of game time forced him to leave

Odion Ighalo has revealed he is happy to have played for Manchester United but admitted a lack of game time forced him to leave

Now speaking to Sky Sports, Ighalo revealed he continues to love the club he supported as a boy 'with all my heart' but desired more of a role than his peripheral status at United. 


Asked if he could have stayed beyond January this year, Ighalo said: 'There wasn't much possibility because I wanted more playing time. At my age, I want to play and not just sit on the bench and not have any minutes.

'I didn't just want to be there picking up a salary - I wanted to be involved so I said to my agent that if an offer comes in, I will look at it and see what's best for me, which is what I did.

'I'm so happy that my path crossed with Manchester United - it's the club I love with all my heart and for all my life so playing for them was a big privilege that I do not take for granted.

The 31-year-old Nigerian striker scored five goals in 23 games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men

The 31-year-old Nigerian striker scored five goals in 23 games for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men

'No matter the circumstances that led me to leave, I will always be grateful to the coach, my team-mates, the fans, and everyone around Manchester United. After my initial loan was extended, I did not play much which was perhaps a bit unfair but as I said, I am always grateful for the opportunity.'

However, while remaining part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's was not an avenue he considered pursuing, Ighalo did reveal West Ham and West Brom both made offers to keep him in the Premier League. 

Yet the former Nigeria international felt he had achieved his ambitions having played for his 'dream' club. 

'Yeah, there was the possibility of West Ham and West Brom to stay in the Premier League, which I thought about,' he added.

West Ham United boss David Moyes
West Brom boss Sam Allardyce

He also revealed he turned down West Ham and West Brom's offers to stay in England

'But after being at Manchester United, the biggest club in England if not the world, what else could I possibly do in the Premier League?

'I had good offers to stay in England, but I just didn't think I could stay after achieving my dream of playing for the club I had supported since I was young.' 

Paul Pogba is one of Ighalo's former United team-mates who has been linked with following him out of the Old Trafford exit door this summer.

Reports at the weekend claimed United players would be devastated if he left amid continuing talk of a return to former club Juventus.

Ighalo also urged Old Trafford chiefs to do all they can to keep midfielder Paul Pogba

Ighalo also urged Old Trafford chiefs to do all they can to keep midfielder Paul Pogba 

But Ighalo believes the United board must do everything within their power to keep the 'influential' 28-year-old France midfielder. 

'He's one of the best players I've played with and one of the best players at Manchester United. Apart from playing on the pitch, he's a good guy in the dressing room, a funny guy, he's always happy.

'The only time he isn't happy is when he's not playing and I can understand that - everyone wants to play. If Manchester United have the opportunity to keep him on a new, longer deal, they should because he is so influential.'

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