Odion Ighalo says he was not fairly treated by Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his loan stint at the club, reports Completesports.com.
Ighalo, 31, joined the Red Devils on loan from Chinese Premier League outfit Shanghai Shenhua in January 2020.
The deal was later extended until January 2021, but the former Nigeria international started just two games this season before leaving.
Ighalo admits he had to leave his boyhood club after he was regularly snubbed by Solskjaer.
“There wasn’t much possibility because I wanted more playing time,” the 31-year-old told Sky Sports when asked if he could have extended his stay with United.
Read Also: Ighalo: I Turned Down Mourinho And Tottenham To Join Manchester United
“At my age, I want to play and not just sit on the bench and not have any minutes.
“I didn’t just want to be there picking up a salary – I wanted to be involved so I said to my agent that if an offer comes in, I will look at it and see what’s best for me, which is what I did.
“I’m so happy that my path crossed with Manchester United – it’s the club I love with all my heart and for all my life so playing for them was a big privilege that I do not take for granted.
“No matter the circumstances that led me to leave, I will always be grateful to the coach, my team-mates, the fans, and everyone around Manchester United.
“After my initial loan was extended, I did not play much which was perhaps a bit unfair but as I said, I am always grateful for the opportunity.”
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COMMENTS
Why u didn’t Said this while u was that so the coaches will hear and now u left Saudi Arabia u come dey talk
U was in the bench all through when press ask u and u will reply u re happy despite ben in bench just bcos u re in Man U
Rather after your loan extension you stopped scoring and was confined to the bench.Martial upped his game when you move to Manchester United,so you have to start most of your matches in the cup games where you excelled but after the extension of your contract you found goalscoring hard games after games and your opportunity in the team started to wane!
We are too critical of of players common people, is Cavani scoring week in week out, Coaches sometimes take decisions that does not really help their teams. Rem M. Salah, Lukaku, Del Bruyne were all at Chelsea condemned to the bench but look how they all turned out. Our guy showed up when he got to Man U so that the coach denied him playing time does not always me the player is bad or has lost form, there are a whole lot of things that informs coaches decision, prefrecial treatment of some players, race, e optional reaction go technical issues in the team, friendship to some players, and many more. Besides, if the player was forced on the coach, I bet you he will look for the slightest reason to offload him.