By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
Odion Ighalo has revealed that he would have rejected a new contract from Manchester United even if the Premier League side had offered him one before moving to Al Shabab.
Ighalo on Thursday sealed a permanent move to Saudi Arabian Pro League side, Al Shabab from Chinese Super League outfit, Shanghai Shenhua, having played on loan at United.
The former Super Eagles ace initially joined United in a temporary deal in January 2020 and scored five goals in only five starts in 19 appearances across all competitions.
His performances for the Red Devils saw his loan extended for another six months but the 31-year-old found minutes hard to come by this season as he played just four times.
Speaking to Brila 88.9 FM on Friday morning, Ighalo was asked if he would have considered putting pen to paper on a fresh contract at Old Trafford had he being offered one.
The striker answered: “No, that would never have happened, I would have rejected a new contract from Manchester United even if they had gone ahead to offer me another deal.
“That is because I am not growing any younger and at this stage of my career which is already winding down, I really need to play matches on a regular basis,” Ighalo said.”
Ighalo was handed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the King Fahd Stadium outfit having passed his medical and could make his debut for Al Shabab against Al Raed on Saturday.