The 30-year-old Nigeria
international ace has admitted that he
was surprised when the Red Devils came
calling but wants to show what he's made of
On-loan Manchester United striker
Odion Ighalo says that the Old Trafford club are yet to see the best of him.
The Nigeria international
proved a shock arrival with the Red Devils in January, when he completed a loan
move from Chinese Super League side
Shanghai Shenhua.
Although
that was set to expire at the end of the scheduled Premier League season,
United were so happy with the 30-year-old, who scored four times in eight
outings, that they
reached a deal to keep Ighalo on their books for an extended period following
the coronavirus suspension, which threw the calendar out of sync.
He is
now contracted to the club until January 2021 and says that he wants to make
the most of his opportunity.
“When I
signed, a lot of people doubted my ability,” he said. “I never doubted myself
and I knew what I could add to the team and I think I can still do more. People
have not seen my best because I came in and my sharpness and fitness wasn't
there, but I'm getting much better and I hope to finish the season really well.
“For
now, I just want to continue living my dream.”
He
admits, however, that he was surprised when the Red Devils came calling.
“I
thought it was a joke,” he said. “I was playing in Shanghai. That was against
me. Would a club as a big as United be looking in China for
a striker? That was against me. My age. That was against me. There was a
pandemic in China. That
was against me. I said no this is a joke. Later when it got serious, I thought:
only when I fly to Manchester will I believe it.”
Ighalo
has yet to have the opportunity to play alongside Marcus Rashford and Paul
Pogba, both of whom were injured, and he is looking forward to teaming up with
such quality players.
“I'm very excited,” he
admitted. “Seeing them from outside is different to training with them. Pogba
is back, he's doing very well, he's strong, he's fit. Marcus is exceptional, a
very talented player. I can't wait to play with these guys.”
goal.com
No comments:
Post a Comment