Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand has praised the impact of Ighalo at United.
“Wow, eight games, three starts in that, four goals and one assist. Ighalo, do you sign him for Manchester United now?,” Ferdinand said in a live chat on his Instagram page.
“All the people that out there that were saying: ‘What are we doing signing Ighalo? What’s going on? What’s Ole thinking?’ – I was one of them, I have to admit it.
“Ighalo’s been in China, the league’s nowhere near what the Premier League is so how is he going get up to speed? Is he going to be ready straight away? We need somebody to come and make an impact immediately. Coming from China, impossible.
“Well, he’s proved us all wrong. This guy has proved us all wrong. It’s refreshing to see someone who is like a supporter, who is thankful.
“He looks like he’s absolutely delighted to be at Manchester United. He’s been a Manchester United supporter his whole life. He looks like he’s saying ‘thank you’ every day he walks up to Ole for giving him this opportunity.
“He’s not someone who says ‘Manchester United are lucky to have me here’ – that’s the vibe I’ve got for a little while and that’s not just United, that’s other clubs as well.
“This boy looks like he’s happy to be here: ‘Whatever you tell me to do I’m going to go out there and do it to the best of my ability. I’m going to give you 100 per cent every day in training and in matches because I love this club and I want to do right by this club’. I love it.
“It’s shocked me to see what he’s done. Listen, we’re not talking like he’s turned Man United into world-beaters but United needed something and he’s brought it in and given it and that’s all you can ask for.
“And I think he’s warranted the opportunity to come in as a full-time player and what he’s given Manchester United which they didn’t have is someone they can pass the ball into and can hold it up, he’s got a physical presence, he can hold off a defender or two and lay the ball in for someone else to score,” he concluded
Meanwhile, Ighalo has a huge decision to make in the coming days.
The 30-year-old attacker, currently on loan at Manchester United was, this week, offered a two-year contract extension by his parent Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua.
The deal is in the region of £400,000 per week.
Ighalo has been a big hit at United where has netted four goals in his first three starts for the Red Devils.
The former Super Eagles man’s loan deal at Old Trafford runs out on May 31 but it is likely to be extended until June 30 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ighalo’s current contract with Shanghai Shenhua runs out in December 2022 but the forward’s heroics at United have impressed the Chinese so much that they have now dangled a seemingly irresistible carrot aimed at tying down the Nigerian in Shanghai until December 2024.
Reports in England claim that Ighalo’s head has been turned by the huge offer from Shanghai Shenhua even though his focus is on United until his loan deal expires.
It is believed that Ighalo will wait to see if United will offer him a permanent deal before making a final decision on his future.
Ighalo is a United fan and supported the club as a boy.
