Reactions have continued to trail the shocking transfer of Ex-Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo, to Manchester United, ACLSports reports.
Ighalo stole the headlines on deadline day following his shocking and historic move to United on a six-month loan from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on Friday.
“(Manchester) United can confirm that Odion Ighalo will join on loan from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua until the end of the season, ” the English club said in a statement on their official website.
The 30-year-old 2019 AFCON golden boot winner becomes the first-ever Nigerian to play for the Red Devils, who have now bolstered their squad for the rest of the season.
Commenting on the move, United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said;
“Ighalo is an experienced player. He will come in and give us an option of a different type of centre-forward for the short spell he’s staying with us.
“A great lad and very professional, he will make the most of his time here.”
Ighalo’s deadline day move to Old Trafford came as a shock to not just Nigerians but football followers, who took their respective social media accounts to voice their thoughts.
YourSportsMemo keenly monitored and has some of the best reactions from Nigerians and fans of the Red Devils.
Here is how the football world reacted to Ighalo’s historic move to arguably England’s biggest club.
What is this news I’m hearing about United?
Jesus Christ, hold meeeeee
— Tola. (@LordDreyy) January 31, 2020
Ighalo about to earn retirement money at Utd. Love to see it ❤️
— Lamz!? (@Misslamide) January 31, 2020
The Nigerian R9. pic.twitter.com/fOVq8aKtOX
— Ryan. ? (@Vintage_Utd) January 31, 2020
My bro @ighalojude i know your gassed right now! One of your dreams coming true..couldn’t happen to a nicer guy?? good luck bro…..quick linkup with @B_Fernandes8 too ? #GloryToGod #YYB
— Yannick Bolasie (@YannickBolasie) January 31, 2020
Igahlo >>> Auba. https://t.co/yy6pMSxwMi
— King..? (@teddi_speaks) January 31, 2020
You created time God . Let it fly before this deal is completed . Please pic.twitter.com/5EIk96LCyc
— BAMBAM (@OJOBAMIJI) January 31, 2020
Odion Ighalo. From being flogged to China by Watford to agreeing terms with Manchester United.
If you live long enough…
— Solace Chukwu (@TheOddSolace) January 31, 2020
People are complaining about Martial's misses and we are about to get Ighalo. LOL ?
— Tammy (@Oghene_Ovo) January 31, 2020
Solskjaer said he needs a striker that’ll break his nose to score goals. Ighalo? Ighalo?
— . (@Novaculah) January 31, 2020
So people actually think there are strikers lining up to play for Manchester United ??. Until we have succeeded in rebuilding our team, with solid system and pattern of play that takes us back to our glory days, it's best we don't get our hopes too high
— Zeemama (@zeemamaconcepts) January 31, 2020
We need Woodward and Olé out of the club. Those two and whoever wrote the list of these deadline day targets. ?
— Mayowa Odujobi (@johnero) January 31, 2020
I CAN KILL MYSEF RIGHT NOW DPMO https://t.co/XYTEL94oyt
— Lu (@Mxbel) January 31, 2020
A Nigerian at Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/zbkkayFzP1
— Cerè Dellacroce (@Cerebrone) January 31, 2020
AKSNDKDKRKFMFMRK@ManUtd you better liquidate …you better give your money to charity you fucking idiotic piece of shit https://t.co/QXGLX1i02f
— Bad Guy? (@ahnnyjekyll) January 31, 2020
Ighalo told you guys he is serving a living God, he wasn't joking.
— Tosin Akingba™ (@venusakingba) January 31, 2020
Atleast @ighalojude will be the first Nigerian to play for my club ??
— Alabo Roland (@Roland_speaks) January 31, 2020
Despite their reactions, for Ighalo, he ticks off a lifelong dream to play for United, something he admitted to four years ago.
With the latest development, the former Super Eagle returns to England, three years after his spell at Watford, where he scored 40 goals in 100 matches in all competitions for the Hornets.
Across all clubs in his career so far, Ighalo has scored 131 goals from 322 matches but was unable to score against United despite coming up against them three times.
The forward has also earned 35 caps for Nigeria and scored 16 goals and finished as top scorer in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Ighalo is United’s second signing in January following the initial arrival of Portuguese star, Bruno Fernandes.
He is expected to join up with his new teammates this weekend.
