Odion Ighalo says farewell to Manchester United in emotional post as his loan at the club comes to end
Odion Ighalo has confirmed his departure from Manchester United, posting an emotional farewell post on Instagram.
The Nigerian forward joined the club on a short term loan spell in January 2020 from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua, before the club extended his stay in Manchester for another six months.
In his 23 games for the Red Devils, he scored five goals.
Having signed Edinson Cavani, the former Watford man became surplus to requirements at Palace and has now left the club.
Ighalo a childhood United fan, found a place in United fans’ hearts for his work ethic and his pride at wearing the famous red shirt.
He became the first Nigerian player to play for Manchester United’s senior team.
“It’s so hard to see this dream come to an end,” he wrote.
“But I give God the glory for helping me fulfil this life long dream of putting on a Manchester United shirt as a player and represent this great club.
“It was indeed an honour I will forever cherish and be grateful for.
“To the manager, I say thank you for trusting and believing in me when many did not,” he wrote about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“To my amazing teammates I will miss you guys, it was always fun and a time I look forward to training and spending time with all of you. And I pray we win the LEAGUE and FA cup this year,” he added.
“To the best fans in the world (the Manchester United fans) we have missed you, but we hear your voices cheering us on from afar, we can’t wait to have you all back on the stands,” he said, with excellent use of brackets for clarification.
Concluding his goodbye, he wrote: “I’m still and would remain a MANCHESTER UNITED FAN forever. Once a Red, always a Red. Thank you Manchester United and God bless.”
It’s was a pleasure. Once a Red, always a Red🔴🔴🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/uXVqIXxsAf
— Odion Jude Ighalo (@ighalojude) January 26, 2021