In retrospect, Odion Ighalo's signing for Manchester United was one of the club's strangest moves in recent memory.
It was January transfer deadline day in 2020, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had decided that a back-up striker was needed for the second half of the season to support the club's Europa League, FA Cup, and Premier League top four objectives.
Solskjr was emphatic that he needed another goalscorer in a season where he was determined to win his first trophy with the club.
After Bournemouth refused to respond to a bid for ex-Red Joshua King, United turned to the former Watford striker, who eagerly welcomed the opportunity to play for his boyhood club.
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo makes his debut against Chelsea. (image).
Those first few months weren't all that horrible. In 19 appearances, Ighalo scored five goals (three in the FA Cup and two in the Europa League) and added one assist, although those 19 appearances didn't reflect his minutes, as he only played 6.7 minutes per game.
During those few months, Ighalo had developed cult-hero status at the club, especially as he became the first ever Nigerian to play for the club, which is so popular in the country, and just the seventh African player to do so.
Before returning to his Chinese parent club Shanghai Shenhua, United extended his loan agreement for another six months.
On the issue of Nigerian attackers, Manchester United is said to be interested in current Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as of April.
Victor Osimhen of UtdDistrict can leave Napoli under particular circumstances: if a deal of at least €80 million including bonuses comes in, Napoli will examine it. Those who are interested include
Odion Ighalo is well-known as a hero of the former Lille striker, with the two posing for a photo with Ighalo's Manchester United shirt while he was still at the club.
Victor Osimhen's brother Andrew disclosed to Complete Sports in 2020 that, despite signing for Napoli in July 2020 for a club-record €70 million, increasing to a potential €80 million, Manchester United attempted to sign the striker the same summer.
Victor Osimhen poses with Manchester United's Odion Ighalo, holding the latter's match shirt. Instagram is to blame.
"It's true that Manchester United wanted Victor," Andrew explained, "but he said something to the effect that he had too much respect for Odion Ighalo to be fighting for shirts with his senior colleague."
"My brother views Ighalo in high regard, and he couldn't envision himself moving to Old Trafford to compete for a striking job with the 2019 AFCON's top striker."
Osimhen has now established himself as a powerful attacking force at both the club and international levels. In 58 appearances for Napoli, he has 26 goals and 8 assists, while for the Super Eagles, he has 10 goals in 18 games.
With Manchester United wanting to sign a striker in the next window due to Mason Greenwood's ban and Edinson Cavani's departure at the end of the season, Osimhen might be the answer... This time, he doesn't have to compete with Ighalo!
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