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Tag: Ighalo

  • Osun govt probes Ighalo’s loan move to Man Utd

    Osun govt probes Ighalo’s loan move to Man Utd

    Osun State House of Assembly have opened a probe into the alleged diversion of €10,000 received by Nigerian club Osun United due to Odion Ighalo’s loan move to Manchester United.

    Ighalo completed a temporary switch to Old Trafford from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua in January, a deal which was later extended until January 2021.

    His return to England earned his first professional club Osun United, formerly known as Prime FC, who play in the Second Division of the Nigerian league, a reported sum of €10,000 (4.5 million naira).

    The Osogbo-based outfit received the money at a time when they were struggling financially to register for the 2020-21 Nigeria National League season and pay their players’ salaries.

    This €10,000 from the loan of Ighalo to Manchester United would have reportedly helped the club meet their financial commitments, although there are concerns that the funds did not actually arrive in the club’s coffers.

    The Chairman of Osun House Committee on Sports, Hon. Adrullahi Adegbile confirmed their investigation is still ongoing and he assured all individuals involved in the alleged diversion of the funds will be summoned.

    “When we got the information, we invited all the parties. After a thorough investigation into the issue, I assure you, we will make our findings public. We will still invite them this week,” Adegbile told the Punch.

    Goal

     

  • Shanghai Shenhua insist on Ighalo’s return

    Shanghai Shenhua will reportedly push ahead with plans to recall striker Odion Ighalo from Manchester United by the end of the week.

    The 30-year-old took a pay cut to join the Red Devils on a half-season loan deal in January that is due to expire on May 31.

    However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed that United is looking to extend the Nigerian’s stay at Old Trafford until the end of the Premier League season, which will stretch into July as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Ighalo’s agent has also hinted that a deal between United and Shenhua is close to being agreed, but The Mirror claims that his parent club are demanding that he returns in time for the start of the Chinese Super League campaign in three weeks’ time.

    Shenhua were willing to discuss a permanent transfer of around £20 million, it is claimed, but United is not looking to sign the former Watford man for the long term, despite his return of four goals from eight appearances since joining.

  • Ighalo trains in public park ahead of EPL June restart

    Ighalo trains in public park ahead of EPL June restart

    Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo maintained his fitness levels ahead of a possible restart to the season by training in a Cheshire park on Monday.

    The Nigerian striker, dressed in United training gear, was pictured doing sprint drills on the grass in readiness for a potential resumption of the Premier League next month.

    Under the Premier League’s Project Restart proposals, players will return to full training later this month with a view to restarting matches behind closed doors at neutral venues from June 12.

    And Ighalo, who scored four goals in eight matches for United before the season was suspended, is clearly determined to hit the ground running.

    However, United’s efforts to keep Ighalo have been thrown into doubt after his parent club in China, Shanghai Shenhua, demanded a permanent transfer worth in excess of £20million.

    Ighalo’s loan to Old Trafford technically expires on May 31 but United are keen to extend it so he can continue playing for them once the season resumes.

    However, Shanghai want their player back in time for the start of the Chinese Super League campaign, which begins in July, and will only allow him to stay if a permanent deal can be agreed.

    Ighalo was valued at £15m when he first arrived on deadline day in January for a loan fee of £3m, and United were ready to pay it.

    But after making such a strong initial impression, Shanghai are demanding more for the 30-year-old former Watford striker.

    United were waiting to see when the Premier League will restart before opening talks because they have been paying £130,000-a-week of Ighalo’s salary during the two-month shutdown.

    But they appear to be preparing for the possibility that he will leave, with club sources highlighting Marcus Rashford’s return to fitness from a back injury as the main reason Ighalo was signed as a stop-gap in the first place.

  • Ighalo: Man United to table £200,000-a-week deal

    Ighalo: Man United to table £200,000-a-week deal

    Odion Ighalo will have to accept a staggering £200,000-a-week wage cut if he wants to seal a permanent move to Manchester United.

    Ighalo joined United in a shock loan move from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua in January and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is willing to offer the 30-year-old a permanent deal ahead of the start of next season.

    But Old Trafford bosses are not willing to match the current £300,000-a-week wages Ighalo currently earns in China – and have warned him their offer will be no more than £100,000-a-week.

    It remains to be seen if Ighalo, 30, will be willing to take such a huge financial hit.

    Ighalo’s current loan deal is due to expire on May 31 and United will look to extend it, with the current campaign expected to run until June and July due to the pandemic.

    United will then look to negotiate a full-time deal with Ighalo, who admits he is open to moving to Manchester on a permanent basis.

    He said: “I’m on loan until the end of the season, which has not expired. Now it’s for us to finish the season very well, and if I do well, score more goals, if possible, then after the season we’ll see what’s on the table.”

  • Ighalo sends message to Man Utd fans about Fernandes

    Ighalo sends message to Man Utd fans about Fernandes

    Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo is confident Bruno Fernandes will be a huge player for the club.

    Ighalo knows Fernandes well as they spent time together in Italy seven years ago. The 30-year-old said the best is yet to come from his team-mate.

    “Bruno is a fantastic player,” he said in an interview with Juliet Bawuah. “I played with him in 2013-14 at Udinese. We’ve not seen the best of him yet in the Premier League.

    “Once Bruno Fernandes settles down in England you will see what that guy can do. He has vision, he wants the ball always. He can shoot, he can score goals, he is very intelligent.

    “Before the ball comes, he is a step ahead to know what he wants to do. In times to come you are going to see what he can do in the Premier League, even better than what he is doing now.”

  • Ighalo wins Goal of the Month at Man United

    Ighalo wins Goal of the Month at Man United

    Odion Ighalo has won Manchester United’s March Goal-of-the-Month award, for his sparkling effort against LASK in the Europa League.

    The Nigerian’s driven shot to open the scoring against the Austrians, after some skilled ball juggling in the build-up, took home 32 percent votes.

    The former Watford striker’s goal in the Emirates FA Cup win against Derby County, however, failed to make the top three.

    Ighalo narrowly beat off fierce competition from Scott McTominay, whose memorable late goal against Manchester City received 26 percent.

    Bruno Fernandes’s first strike from open play for the Reds, at Everton, finished third in the poll with 16 percent.

    Ighalo joined Manchester United on a six-month loan deal from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in January.

  • (Video) Ighalo scores wonder goal as Manchester United secure big win in Austria

    (Video) Ighalo scores wonder goal as Manchester United secure big win in Austria

    Former Nigerian international Odion Ighalo is proving to be money well spent having recorded his fourth goal on Thursday night for Manchester United in the Europa League.

    United were ruthless as they trounced their host LASK 5-0 in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie.

    Despite playing away from home albeit in an empty stadium, United put up a dominant display as they whipped their hosts 5-0 in the first leg Round of 16 Europa League tie.

    It was Ighalo who opened scoring for Manchester United in Thursday’s tie as he found the back of the net in the 28th minute in the first half.

    The goal was a thunderbolt strike which saw Ighalo control the ball in the 18 yard box with so much confidence and focus before beating the LASK defenders.

    Ighalo has now scored in all his three starts for Manchester United, having found the net in Thursday’s 5-0 victory over LASK in the Europa League.

    That effort means the 30-year-old has found the net whenever he makes United’s starting XI. Romelu Lukaku was the last player to achieve that feat for the Manchester-based outfit.

    After the opening goal, in the 58th minute, Ighalo assisted Daniel James for his side’s second goal, while Juan Mata, Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira completed the rout.

    With this massive win, Manchester United take a five-goal advantage into the second leg billed for Old Trafford on March 19.

  • Ighalo’s mother : Why I won’t allow my son play for Super Eagles

    Ighalo’s mother : Why I won’t allow my son play for Super Eagles

    Mother of former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, Martina, has said her son will never play for Nigeria again as his brother also hinted that the Manchester United striker was not considering a return.

    According to a radio programme monitored on Wednesday, Ighalo’s 75-year-old mother, Martina said even if her son was contemplating a return to the national team, she would not accept.

    Martina who celebrated her birthday on March 10 revealed that the family had a tough time after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, saying the entire family was threatened.

    “He is yet to mention anything like coming back to the national team to me, even if he wants to, I cannot allow him,” Mrs Ighalo said.

    “He received a lot of criticism in 2018, a lot of threats, they threatened the entire family.”

    Ighalo has made an impressive start to life since arriving at Old Trafford scoring four goals in his first eight appearances and Nigerians are calling for a return.

    On the same radio programme, the footballer’s brother, Moses, thanked Nigerians for the immense show of love for the family since the player joined United.

    He however added that the player is yet to hint the family whether he is considering a return to the national team, adding that all his brother wants now is to focus on his career at Old Trafford.

    “Well, I have to thank Nigerians for the support Odion has received since joining United which was his boyhood dream club. The goodwill has been massive and the entire family appreciate it.

    “For now, Ighalo has not told me or the rest of the family as regards coming out of international retirement.

    All his focus, for now is doing well at United and we are all praying for him to succeed,” he explained.

  • Ighalo sends message to critics after hitting brace for Man Utd

    Ighalo sends message to critics after hitting brace for Man Utd

    Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo, has declared he doesn’t care what anyone says, so long he has the support of his team-mates, manager and fans after scoring a brace in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Derby County in the FA Cup fifth round.

    After Luke Shaw opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, Ighalo fired home his Manchester United’s second in the 41st minute before wrapping up the victory with another goal in the 70th minute.

    The 30-year-old, who joined Manchester United on January’s transfer deadline day from Shanghai Shenhua, has now scored three goals across his first six appearances for the Red Devils.

    While some initially questioned United’s decision to sign Ighalo, he’s quickly proven his worth and declared he couldn’t care less what pundits may be saying about him.

    “I am happy. I want to congratulate the team on a hard-fought game.

    “As long as my team-mates believe in me, the boss believes in me and the fans believe in me, I just have to keep going. I don’t care what anyone says,” Ighalo told BT Sport post-match.

    Ighalo’s arrival at Old Trafford has coincided with a good run of form for the Red Devils with the club yet to lose when the Nigerian’s been involved and winning both of their games when he’s started.

    It’s the stuff of fairytales for Ighalo, who is determined to pay back Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s faith in him.

    “I am happy to be around this game team, great lads and great manager, I am happy and we are working hard,” Ighalo told BBC Sport.

    “We know we need to win the game to go through to do important things this season and end the season well. The start was not the best we can do but after 20-25 minutes we got into the game.

    “I used my strength and I am happy the ball went in. For the second, they blocked it then there is nothing I can do apart from shoot.

    “I had another shot but did not connect well but the most important thing is that we won. We want to keep the momentum going and make sure we do great this season.”

    Manchester United will now face Norwich City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 21 but next host Manchester City at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

  • Ighalo docked in Port Harcourt for fraud

    Ighalo docked in Port Harcourt for fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, today charged Patrick Ighalo with four counts of obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N1,750,000.00, about $5,000.

    The case is being heard by Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on

    One of the counts reads: “That you Patrick Ighalo and Raymond Otamere Ibie between 10th and 15th of April, 2015 at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court with intent to defraud did obtained the sum of One Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand (N1.750, 000) Naira only from Evelyn Obene under the false pretence that the sum was an investment in an oil business and which pretence you knew to be false and thereby commited an offence contrary to Section 1(1)( a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

    When the charge was read to Ighalo, he pleaded not guilty.

    In view of the plea of the defendant, the prosecution counsel, R.E. Alao prayed the court for a new date for trial while the defendant is remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

    However, the defence counsel, T.J. Kurukurugbor asked the court to grant his client bail.

    Justice Omotosho granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3 million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be a grade level 10 Officer and must deposit his passport photograph with the court.

    The case was adjourned till March 12, 2020 for trial.

    Patrick Ighalo ran into trouble following a petition by Mrs Evelyn Obene, who alleged that she met him and Raymond Otamere Ibie sometime in January 2015 in Calabar and that they convinced her to invest N1.750.000 in an Automotive Gas Oil business.

    The money was transferred to Ighalo’s Ecobank account number 2221007816. She also alleged that she gave Ighalo N950,000 cash for barge repairs and logistics; while another N270,000 was transferred to Mr Raymond Otamere Ibie’s Account.

    She claimed that after paying the monies, the suspects became evasive and all efforts to recover the funds proved futile.