Paul Merson believes Odion Ighalo would be foolish to turn down a permanent move to Manchester United and return to parent club Shanghai Shenhua at the end of the season.
Eyebrows were raised when United completed a loan agreement for Ighalo on the final day of the January transfer window but the 30-year-old striker has proved his doubters wrong thus far, racking up four goals and one assist in his opening eight appearances for the team.
The Red Devils are already considering making Ighalo’s deal permanent for a fee of £15million in the summer and reports suggest the Nigerian, a lifelong United fan, is keen to stay on at Old Trafford even if that means accepting a paycut.
However, Shanghai Shenhua have not given up hope of Ighalo returning to China and have offered the forward £400,000-a-week wages to stay on with them.
Discussing Ighalo’s impressive start at United, Merson told Sky Sports: ‘When Odion Ighalo arrived at Manchester United in January, I didn’t really want to get involved in any conversations about him because, either way, there was a danger of being made to look silly. ‘
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If you said he was going to be awful he could embarrass you badly by performing like he did during that brilliant year he had with Watford or if you said he was going to be a good signing, he could still be the player who put in some awful showings just before he left Watford.
‘I didn’t want to get involved in that because it was a no-win situation. However, what I can say now is that he’s been absolutely outstanding since he arrived at Old Trafford. ‘I know he hasn’t played a lot of football but when he’s come off the bench and when he has got some game time, he’s looked class.’
On whether United should sign the Nigeria international on a permanent basis, Merson added: ‘It’s a hard decision Manchester United have to make regarding his future because if you give him a contract, can he perform again that next season? ‘When you go to a club on loan you’ve got that hunger of wanting to secure a permanent move, prove everybody inside the club right and everybody outside the club wrong.
” All of a sudden, you give someone a contract and they think they’ve done all the hard work.
You’ve only got to look at his time at Watford. He looked a world-beater but then next minute he couldn’t score a goal for toffee. But if you are going on the form he’s showed since coming to the club in January it’s going to be hard to get rid of him – and don’t worry about the new mega money offers in China.
‘He’s said all the right things since joining Manchester United. He’s turned around enough times and said he’s dreamed of playing for United so if they do offer him a permanent deal, I can’t see him turning it down. ‘Everything’s gone right for him so far and if United do offer him a chance to stay, I’d be shocked if he walked away.’
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COMMENTS
Paul Merson again!
“Discussing Ighalo’s impressive start at United, Merson told Sky Sports: ‘When Odion Ighalo arrived at Manchester United in January, I didn’t really want to get involved in any conversations about him because, either way, there was a danger of being made to look silly”.
Big lie!!! This guy is unbelievable. Earlier on, it was Merson, Gary Neville and Neil Warnock that were shooting their mouths off, lamenting that Man United should have gone for a better player. Fast forward a few weeks, and here you have Merson CHANGING MOUTH in spectacular fashion! It’s amazing how some people keep arguing even after they have been completely defeated. Ighalo has indeed made him look silly. And the more he talks, the sillier he looks!
‘The more he talks, the sillier he looks.’
🙂 🙂 🙂
I love it!
Hehehehehe…this Merson guy must be from the same lineage as Omo9ja. LMAO.
Odion should better read the handwriting on the wall and not cheapen himself on the alter of childhood dreams. Like I said before, business is business. If ManU is not ready to show him the respect he deserves and offer him a deal that reflects his true worth, he should head back to base (Shanghai) where they are ready to turn him into a deity (GBP400k per week).
If it were one Luciano Vanandinho from Brazil that came in and scored 4 goals in 350 minutes of gametime, Man U wouldn’t be contemplating signing another striker (Aubameyang) for next season, they would have promptly offered a permanent deal and bumper pay package without thinking twice. With the way things are going, Man U would probably have 5 or 6 strikers next season, with all these naysayers surrounding Ighalo, I’ll advise him not to quicken his retirement but staying back at old trafford without a 1st XI guarantee and befitting pay package; all because of childhood dreams. Only a barren spell of a few games and they will throw into the dustbin all that “I’ve loved Man U since I was a boy” love song
Even in business, after lowering your prices (or whatever market entry strategies you employ) just to break into and compete in an existing market, the next thing you start thinking of is breaking-even.
Odion, the honeymoon period is over….time to get serious and be professional..!
Well said @ Drey.. Ighalo has proved a point n many wrong in many situations. The ovation is loudest for him now. With no assurance of international football n too many snakes under all these Man utd thing, I’ d adviced Ighalo think really hard about that China offer. I would have honestly preferred him remaining in Man U but I sense those whose ego he has bruised ain’t lying low.
Ighalo, please don’t stsy with United.
If by any means you have a run of three games without a goal (it happens to every player), the same United fans and pundits that are singing your praise will begin to castigate you.
You have proved your point. You have fulfilled your childhood dream of playing for United. Please go back to China where you are celebrated and earn your mega bucks retirement package.
‘where you…… earn your mega bucks retirement package.’
I am so loving the these soundbites. Keep them coming guys. 🙂
He will be foolish yes but u ur self is already mad idiot did you people even wish him to even have a goal to his name with man u Jersey,now everybody is taking about ighalo,my bro Jude may God continue to bless you
No football player in his right mind would turn down £400k a week
to accept £130k or at most £150k a week..not even Paul merson
Ighalo has fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for United. The dream
Is accomplished. Now should head back to China for £400k a week wage. I’m a lifetime Utd fan, if Ighalo turn down the mega bucks offer from China, then a psychiatric should be engaged to exam his head and Nigerians would have to hold all night prayer of deliverance for Ighalo
‘Ighalo has fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for United. The dream
Is accomplished.’
I am loving the punchlines in threads to this article – keep it coming guys
I guess I wwould have to play the Devil’s advocate.
Yes.400k per week isn’t small money.it is an offer hard to refuse. it is the best retirement package anyone, let alone an African player can ask for.
But that’s basically for the short term.
We should look at the other picture.
Ighalo could still earn 150k pounds a week , winning a trophy or so and get the chance to be cult hero in a great club like Manchester United, which could open doors for future engagement and roles in different capacity in the Manchester United framework.
Besides, after this pandemic dies down,how are we sure anyone would be in a hurry to rush back to China. Their attitude towards foreigners right now is totally degrading.
Some things go beyond money.
Especially for one like Ighalo that has been blessed enough to have earned handsomely well and still do..
Manchester United is dishing out over 350K pound per week for the Nigeria’s super star. No Nigerian, dead or alive, have attained such a stupendous monetary offers in history. Yet, a lot of Nigerian haters said that they don’t want to see him play for the Country again in their life time. These so-called fans are really not fans, they are haters of the Player because of what God is doing in Ighalo’s life.
IF GOD IS FOR YOU, HATER SUFFERS IN AGONY. Bishop Idahosa.
Oga cut the crap and let us breath,that people don’t want him come back to super eagles doesn’t mean they all hate him. My self for one, I like Ighalo and I will always wish him well as he forges on in his club career but I’m not just a fan of the idea suggesting Ighalo’s return, so just stop crying foul on here and respect other people’s decision. You’re his fan due to reason(s) best known to you and you can’t force that shiii on others except they choose to.
May God keep blessing Odion
Take it easy. Ighalo retired voluntarily. And so did many other players. No-one ordered him to hand that jersey to Rohr. He had served the country meritoriously. Even his family is not in agreement that he returns to the national team. Ighalo himself has not declared his intension to return. The gaffer has not urged Ighalo to come back. Is this not gearing for a needless fight?
And there is even a glut of stickers for the SuperEagles. The fans voting against his return does not mean that they hate him. There is no need raining curses on anyone.
You obviously have your reasons for wanting Ighalo back. Why not pursue it in a civil way? Make efforts to contact Ighalo or his agent or his family or Rohr or even the NFF.
You are beginning to sound like a broken record sir edoman, please try not to overflog the issue of ighalo coming back to SE team. He has done enough and also exitted at the loudest ovation, let him be or you risk sounding mysterious and nepotistic with most of your recent comment on CSN.
we all should be happy they are younger players in the team with souring confidence to fill his shoes. Nigeria doesn’t lack strikers.
on the topic of discuss, Ighalo has shown class and quality, he owes nothing to any one at the moment in ManU or NG, let him go back to China and enjoy his £400k with 2 years more contract extension, if manU does not guarantee him at descent Gametime and at least £250k(which i doubt they will)
#ItgetBetter #staysafeAll