Odion Ighalo believes he was unfairly benched by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – as he revealed he snubbed a move to Tottenham to complete his “dream” transfer to Manchester United.
Ighalo joined United on loan Shanghai Shenhua in January last year as Solskjaer grappled with a striker shortage.
The Nigeria forward made just five starts, but scored as many goals – including crucial strikes in FA Cup wins over Derby and Norwich.
That saw his loan extended until January this year, but the 31-year-old started just two Carabao Cup games this season before leaving Old Trafford.
And Ighalo doesn’t feel he got a fair chance after being included in just one Premier League squad this term, playing nine minutes from the bench in the defeat to Crystal Palace way back in September.
“After my initial loan was extended, I did not play much which was perhaps a bit unfair but I am always grateful for the opportunity,” he told Sky Sports News.
“When I joined, I always knew I wouldn’t be playing every game because I was signing as a back-up striker so I knew playing time was going to be limited.
“There were certain games where I thought I would play but that’s the decision of the coach and I am not holding anything against anyone.
“I’m so happy that my path crossed with Manchester United – it’s the club I love with all my heart and for all my life so playing for them was a big privilege that I do not take for granted.”
Ighalo, now playing for Al-Shabab Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, revealed he turned down a move to Jose Mourinho’s Spurs to join the club he supported as a boy.
He added: “Tottenham was close – my agent called me and told me they had offered to match whatever I was earning but once I heard Manchester United were interested, there was no turning back.
“I couldn’t think about anything else other than making the Manchester United deal work. I was going to have to take a pay cut but I didn’t care, I just wanted the deal to happen.
And he admitted he couldn’t stay in the Premier League after his United exit, saying: “There was the possibility of West Ham and West Brom to stay in the Premier League, which I thought about.