I will dedicate every United goal to my sister, says Ighalo
Odion Ighalo has revealed how he will cherish his first Manchester United goal for the rest of his life and described the added poignancy of dedicating it to his late sister.
The former Watford striker, signed on loan by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from Chinese football in January, was on the mark in his new team’s 5-0 Europa League win against Club Brugge on Thursday.
Ighalo, 30, had already promised to dedicate any goals he scored while at Old Trafford to his sister Mary Atole, who died after collapsing at her home in Canada in December, aged 43.
“I lost my sister in December,” he explained. “She is a Man United fan. We prayed for this moment to play for United. Unfortunately she is not here to see me doing that. I promised I would dedicate every goal I scored. I am happy I did and wherever she is, she is happy that I’m doing that and she is doing great.
“This is what I dreamt of. I dreamt of playing for United and scoring my first goal. I’m very happy for that. It feels great.
“Old Trafford, seeing the fans singing my name, screaming for me. I’m very grateful. I waited for this moment and this is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
The signing of Ighalo, who had not scored in English football since his last season with Watford in September 2016, was met with scepticism in January.
Richard Arnold, the United managing director, even claimed the Nigerian’s name was the top trending subject on Twitter on Jan 31 – ahead of topics such as Donald Trump and Brexit – although cynics pointed out that was probably the result of the shock value of the signing.
However, Ighalo insists he has been met with nothing but a positive reaction since his arrival.
He said: “I’m happy because I know a lot of United supporters are waiting for this moment to get my first goal.
“They see me as one of their own because I came to this team because I supported them from young and I want to give my best to do whatever it takes to move forward.
“They appreciate that and I appreciated them from the first day I stepped on the field in Manchester. They have been behind me and I hope it continues like that. I promise them I will give my best, win, lose – I don’t care about the circumstances, I will keep giving my best.
“I’m getting better. I know I’m not 100 per cent fit. My last game was Dec 6, in the Chinese league. So I’m getting there bit by bit. The league is faster, stronger, you need more strength. I’m getting better every day.”
The experience of playing for the club he supported as a child – for a manager whom he used to idolise – is the stuff of football fantasy.
“I watched him [Solskjaer] when I was young,” said Ighalo. “I watched a lot of them – Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ole. I watched them, Teddy Sheringham, when I was young. Playing for him now is great for me. I’m very happy.”