Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo has revealed that he received a message of support from Nigerian football icon Nwankwo Kanu after he made his loan move to Old Trafford.
Ighalo’s loan from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on deadline day in January was dubbed a ‘panic buy’ by many critics, though the former Watford forward made an instant impact.
The 30-year-old bagged four goals in all competitions before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis, including a stunning strike in the Europa League against LASK.
Ighalo’s good form could see United try and make his loan move permanent, and the striker has revealed that Kanu gave him some useful advice that helped him seize his opportunity.
‘He sent me a congratulations message when I signed for Man United and he just advised me to keep working hard,’ Ighalo said. ‘He said I’m going to surprise so many people that didn’t give me the benefit of the doubt of coming into that team. He said that he saw me doing well there, but I should work hard and believe in myself – don’t let talk from other people distract me. So it’s a good one.’
Speaking about the pressures of playing for a club like United, Ighalo continued: ‘Manchester United is a big club, there will always be pressure to do well.
‘They want to win every game, they want to contest for every title, they want to do well and especially we want to end this season in the first four to qualify for the Champions League.
‘Trying to win the Europa League, the FA Cup is there. So you feel that little bit of pressure, “this game we have to win”.’
Photo Credit: Getty
