Hargreaves ‘Would Be Surprised’ If Ighalo Doesn’t Stay At Old Trafford

Former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves has admitted he would be surprised if Odion Ighalo does not stay at Manchester United beyond his current deal.

Hargreaves ‘Would Be Surprised’ If Ighalo Doesn’t Stay At Old Trafford
Hargreaves ‘Would Be Surprised’ If Ighalo Doesn’t Stay At Old Trafford

The former Nigeria international joined the Red Devils from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua in January, a move which was greeted with derision and disbelief but Ighalo silenced his doubters by scoring four goals in just three starts before football was suspended due to Covid-19.

Ighalo’s current deal ends in the summer but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opined that the option of keeping the former Watford man around will be evaluated, although no talks have been held yet.

Hargreaves admits Ighalo has proved him wrong as he first doubted him when he was signed by his former club and insists making the 30-year-old stay beyond his current deal is understandable.

The 39-year-old told talkSPORT of Ighalo: “He's a big United fan isn't he and he's done great, he's done really good, better probably than he could have hoped and Man United could have hoped and he's been a good addition to the team.”

“I think all the boys are really good athletes and quick and want to run in behind and get the ball into feet but he looks comfortable with his back to the goal.”

“I love Marcus [Rashford] and [Anthony] Martial, love their game, but they're quite different in the sense that they want the ball into feet and they want to run in behind, whereas he's comfortable being a target man with people behind him and then getting the ball and people can run off him.”

He added: “I think he's been a good fit for Man United and when you sign players you've got to get the right fit.

“It's not always about getting the best name, it's about getting the guy that you don't have that you need.

“He was somebody that whoever signed him hats off to you, because he's given them something different.

“Hopefully he stays but there's the whole [Alexis] Sanchez situation when he comes back, Martial and Rashford, he's fit as well, Bruno [Fernandes] and [Paul] Pogba - you've got to get them all into a team, with Daniel James as well.

“So he's been good, really good. I'm sure they'll try, if it's sensible, to keep him longer. I'd be surprised if he left."