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Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo declared it a “dream come true” to have scored his first goal for the club in their 5-0 demolition of Club Brugge on Thursday night. The 30-year-old became the first Nigerian to play, and score, for the club.
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“I lost my sister in December. She is very dear to me. She was a good United fan too. We hoped for this moment but, now I am at United, she is not here to see what is going on. It is emotional for me.
“I have promised myself that every goal I score, I will dedicate it to her. She is up there watching me.”
Despite the emotion, Ighalo expressed that he felt the goal was a realisation of a lifelong dream.
The 30-year-old is a United fan, and spoke openly about how he felt finding the net for the first time as a Red Devils player.
Odion Ighalo paid tribute to his late sister (Image: GETTY)
“It feels great to score because this is what I have longed for,” he continued. “Now, it is a dream come true for me.
“I dreamed of this from when I was small, when I was young. Playing for the team and scoring goals means a lot to me. I am going to cherish this moment for all the days of my life.
“Before the game, they all sent me messages [from Nigeria]. They have been waiting for my first goal for United. They have been telling me I am close, I am close, I am close and said hopefully it would be today.
“So I’ve got a goal and I can’t look at my phone now because I have got hundreds of messages from Nigeria, from everywhere, congratulating me. I am very happy for that.
“I am enjoying it here. The lads are great and have helped me settle down so easily, so I am very happy for that.”