Nigeria and former Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo says he would grab a chance to return to the Premier League ‘with both hands’, and told ESPN that he would support the Red Devils ’till death’.
Ighalo, now with Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal, was the first Nigerian to play for United when he went there on loan in 2020, even taking a pay cut to move to the club he’d supported since childhood.
However, the Al Hilal striker has said he does not have any regrets about leaving Manchester United.
During his spell with United, the 32-year-old netted five times for the Red Devils.
“The atmosphere in Old Trafford is different. It is a big club. If you’re not inside, you don’t know how big the club is. It is a massive, massive, massive club.
“So, I thank God I played for the biggest club in the world, it’s an achievement for me and when you say, “what I should do better?”. I think I did everything I should do. I worked hard, I scored a few goals and I’m happy.
“I don’t have one regret, I have zero regrets for my time at Manchester United. They are still my team till today and I’m going to support that team to death.
“Even when they are struggling, I will still support them because it is Red Devils all the way,” Ighalo told ESPN.
Before moving to Saudi Arabia at the end of his loan spell with United, Ighalo had the chance to join West Ham or West Bromwich Albion but turned down both offers.
He now says if an opportunity came again to return to the Premier League, he would be open to it: “Of course, the Premier League is the best league in the world and if I have the opportunity to go back, why not, I will grab it with both hands.
“But for now, I am happy where I am and looking forward to playing week in, week out. If an opportunity comes again in the Premier League, I will study it and if it is good for me, why not?”
His most recent encounter with English opposition came when Al Hilal faced Chelsea in the Club World Cup, and Ighalo is still annoyed that he failed to prevent the Blues from progressing towards the final trophy they needed to complete the set.