Ighalo Reveals He Took A Pay Cut To Join Man United
Former Watford forward Odion Ighalo has disclosed he accepted a pay cut to complete his ‘dream’ deadline-day switch to Manchester United.
Ighalo joined the Red Devils during the winter transfer window from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua on a short-term deal set to run until the end of the season.
The 30-year-old was United’s second signing in January after Bruno Fernandes and was brought in to replace Marcus Rashford, who was recently ruled out of action until April with a back injury.
The Nigerian described his late move to Old Trafford as ‘very dramatic’ and insists he did not sleep the night the deal was agreed.
“At 11pm in Shanghai, my agent called me [to say] that United want to do the deal,” Ighalo told MUTV.
“So I woke up that night and started looking for a translator to go to the directors’ room and hit his door and all that,”
“My agent wants to speak to you, United are coming for me, you have to make this happen’ and all that, you know.”
“So, they started talking and discussing. I didn’t sleep throughout that night, because it was going to end at 7am, Shanghai time, and the transfer [window] is going to close there.”
“From 11pm there was paperwork, negotiating and all that, for the loan deal, so we are talking and other teams are calling them, wanting me.”
“But I told my agent that this is what I want. I want to come here.”
“He said: ‘You’re going to get a pay cut to go to United.’ I said: ‘I don’t care. Make this deal happen. I want to go to United. I don’t care how much is the pay cut, I know that, make it happen"
