Aside from being a lifelong supporter of the Red Devils, Odion Ighalo has delivered enough impressive performances to show that he has the quality to be at United beyond the summer, says the former Leeds defender.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has hailed the impact Odion Ighalo has made since arriving at Old Trafford and has charged the club to offer the Nigerian forward a permanent deal.
20-time English champions United were the subject of ridicule and unsavoury remarks after completing the unexpected move for the former Watford attacker on transfer deadline day in January.
Ighalo had spent the last three years in the lowly-rated Chinese Super League, and not many expected him to be up-to-speed with the demanding English Premier League.
But the 2019 AFCON highest goalscorer has adapted to English football as he had never been away, netting four times in eight appearances.
Ferdinand, a United legend, admits he’s one of those who questioned the club’s decision to sign Ighalo, but he’s delighted that the Nigerian star has proved him wrong.
In quotes carried by the Metro referring to a question and answer session Ferdinand had with his Instagram followers, the central defender turned pundit urged the club to do the needful regarding the target man’s contract.
“It’s shocked me to see what he’s done. Listen, we’re not talking like he’s turned Man United into world-beaters, but United needed something, and he’s brought it in and given it, and that’s all you can ask for.
“And I think he’s warranted the opportunity to come in as a full-time player and what he’s given Manchester United which they didn’t have is someone they can pass the ball into and can hold it up, he’s got a physical presence, he can hold off a defender or two and lay the ball in for someone else to score.”
Ighalo is yet to score in the Premier League for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side with all his four goals coming in the FA Cup and the Europa League.
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