One represents the present while the other the future of Manchester United, but both boast qualities that have left the former Watford man impressed
Days after hailing Lille’s Victor Osimhen as the future of Nigerian football, Odion Ighalo has cast Mason Greenwood in similar lights for the Old Trafford landlords.
The Bradford-born teenager is living up to the hype after netting five goals in five Europa League starts this term. His first, against Astana, saw Greenwood become United’s youngest ever goalscorer in European competition at the age of 17 years, 353 days.
The English lad has scored another five times in 22 Premier League showings, convincing Ighalo that the Red Devils have a special talent in their hands.
“He’s very young and exciting. Very good player, left and right, he can shoot and score goals,” Ighalo said of Greenwood during an Instagram live session with the Mirror.
“He’s a player for the future for Man United. He’s doing well now, but in two or three years, he is going to be doing very, very well.”
Ighalo also spoke about Paul Pogba, who was closing in on a return to full fitness before the coronavirus pandemic brought the football season to a halt.
The French midfielder has only featured in seven of United’s 29 league games this campaign, with no goals to his name.
But Ighalo insists the former Juventus midfielder is a positive influence on the squad and wants to see him back in a United shirt soon.
“He’s a nice guy,” added Ighalo.
“A good player. He laughs with everybody. He’s a very good guy.
“Hopefully he will be back soon from his injury to hit the ground running.”