Super Eagles news: Odemwingie slams Ighalo over Osimhen transfer advice – “It’s foolishness”

Former Super Eagles striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie has criticised Odion Ighalo for advising Victor Osimhen to leave European football for the Saudi Pro League, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ighalo made the recommendation to Osimhen in July 2025 when the Nigerian striker was deciding where to continue his career after a prolific season on loan at Galatasaray.

At the time, Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal were pushing hard to sign Osimhen, with the club prepared to meet Napoli’s €75 million release clause and offer the Super Eagles star a salary package worth tens of millions of euros per year.

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Ighalo, who had himself moved from Watford to China before eventually earning a dream loan move to Manchester United, argued that Osimhen could spend two years in Saudi Arabia, secure his financial future and still return to Europe while in his late 20s.

Osimhen ultimately chose a different path, returning to Galatasaray permanently in July 2025 in a club-record €75 million transfer from Napoli.

Super Eagles: Odemwingie questions Ighalo’s advice to Osimhen

Speaking with Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade on the Rash4Christ Podcast, Odemwingie questioned the logic behind Ighalo’s recommendation.

“That is a defence mode, I’ll tell you straight away,” the former Stoke City striker said.

“I’ll tell you straight away. It’s defence mode for the decision that he made; good for him, he chose money over European football when he could still play in Europe.”

Ighalo's career was central to the discussion. The former Nigeria international left Watford for Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai in 2017 before moving to Shanghai Shenhua.

His move to China did not prevent him from eventually returning to England. Manchester United signed Ighalo on loan from Shanghai Shenhua in January 2020, when he was 30, fulfilling a long-held ambition to represent the club he supported as a boy.

Ighalo subsequently moved to Saudi Arabia, playing for Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal and Al-Wehda, but Odemwingie believes Ighalo's career path should not be used as a blueprint for a player who was still at the height of his powers.

“But he knows his body, and what his body allows him to do,” Odemwingie continued.

“But when you’re in your prime physical condition, what are you going in a league to play for money?”

Ighalo wanted Osimhen to secure his future in Saudi Arabia

Ighalo's argument was largely built around financial security. The ex-Watford man urged Osimhen to follow a route similar to his own by temporarily leaving Europe for Saudi Arabia before returning later.

“My advice to him is to go to Saudi Arabia, play two years, make money and come back to Europe,” Ighalo said.

“I went to China to play for three years, and I came back to Europe to play for Manchester United, and even then, all odds were against me. I was 30 years old, coming back to England.”

Ighalo also pointed to the unpredictability of a football career and the financial responsibilities faced by African players.

“Victor can play five more years in Europe if he wants, and remember, he had an injury that almost took his eyesight,” he said.

“God forbid that anything happens, he wouldn’t be able to play again, and that means the money he’s made, he’d have to start living on the money he’s already made.”

“We’re footballers; injuries can happen anytime. It’s what you have you’ll fall back to. I’m just giving my advice; I don’t wish him evil.”

Ighalo's comments came as Osimhen's future was uncertain following an outstanding 2024/25 campaign with Galatasaray, where he scored 37 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions.

Al-Hilal put huge money on the table for Osimhen

Al-Hilal's pursuit of Osimhen was not simply speculation. Napoli had inserted a €75 million release clause in the striker's contract for clubs outside Serie A, and the Saudi club eventually agreed to meet that figure.

In June 2025, Al-Hilal submitted an offer of €70 million, made up of €65 million plus €5 million in add-ons, but Napoli rejected it because it did not meet the €75 million clause.

The Saudi club subsequently moved closer to the full amount, but the he salary negotiations were more extraordinary. The Saudi club was offering €35 million per season plus €5 million in bonuses.

Victor Osimhen chose Galatasaray instead

Despite the enormous financial incentive, Osimhen eventually rejected the Saudi option, joining Galatasaray on a four-year contract running until June 2029.

His guaranteed salary was set at €15 million net per season, alongside a €1 million annual loyalty bonus and €5 million per season in image-rights payments.

Napoli also secured 10% of the profit from any future sale, making Osimhen the most expensive transfer in Turkish football history.

His decision meant that, rather than taking the extraordinary Saudi package Ighalo had recommended, the 27-year-old remained in European football and committed his future to Galatasaray, while earning good money.

Still, Al-Hilal returned in the summer of 2026 with another offer, but Galatasaray weren't having it.

🚨❌ Galatasaray were offered €130m for Victor Osimhen yesterday via an intermediary acting for Al-Hilal.

The offer was made verbally.

Galatasaray are not willing to negotiate at this stage and have no intention of entering talks.@SkySportDE 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/0JipzqdyiL

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 13, 2026

Odemwingie: “If you can play in Europe, it’s a joke”

Odemwingie was critical of the idea that an elite player should leave Europe's top football environment while still in his prime simply to maximise earnings.

“Go there at the right time, but if you can play in Europe, it’s a joke to go somewhere else,” the ex-LOSC Lille striker added.

“I understand what he’s trying to say that titles won’t feed his family, but he’s still earning decent money in Europe.”

The former West Bromwich Albion forward then delivered his strongest criticism of Ighalo's advice.

“Encouraging someone in his prime to just go for money is foolishness,” Odemwingie said. “Top players in the head don’t think that way.”

Osimhen's eventual decision to remain in Europe means the Super Eagles striker chose the sporting route Odemwingie was advocating, even though the financial package available to him in Saudi Arabia was considerably greater.