Man Utd: Odion Ighalo’s goals are ‘special’ insists pundit
Manchester United wanted to know about Odion Ighalo’s physical condition before signing him, it has been claimed. And the Red Devils were taken aback when they landed the Nigeria international, who has scored four goals in eight games across all competitions so far.
Manchester United signed Ighalo amid much mocking at the time, with many slamming the club’s decision to sign the striker from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
However, the 30-year-old has justified the Red Devils’ transfer decision by scoring eight times from four appearances so far.
Ighalo was a surprise signing for the club, particularly coming from the Chinese Super League at a time where the coronavirus crisis was starting to gather momentum.
And former Manchester City coach-turned-trainer Wayne Richardson, who worked with Ighalo at the GB Taekwondo centre, has revealed United were keen to know everything about him.
“From the moment he stepped through the door I knew he was a different breed,” Richardson told Goal.
“I see a lot of players who come in with an agenda of what they want but he knew exactly what his targets were going to be and where he wanted to be.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted at signing the 30-year-old, saying after the club’s win over LASK: “Odion has come in really well and he will improve and get better.
“But he has qualities we saw in him and needed and we need those qualities for next season.
“He’s a goal-scorer and a striker. He doesn’t worry too much about all that nonsense, build-up play - that’s a joke obviously.
"He knows his job and role in the team, and he’s very good with his back to goal.
"He’s a great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality. He’s got the whole lot really.”
And Richardson believes Ighalo would be worth a punt.
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“He is a different option to what Solskjaer currently has at the club,” he said.
“When he arrived we spoke about how he was going to be playing a lot with his back to goal.
“We knew that’s what his role would be so we went through scenarios.
“I brought in a non-league footballer who roughed him up a bit. Grabbed hold of him.
“He had to hold the ball and put his foot on it and you can see how that paid off when he came on against Manchester City, it’s things like this we worked on.”