Man Utd signing Odion Ighalo's first words after arriving in Manchester

Posted Monday, February 03, 2020 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester United's new signing Odion Ighalo has spoken out after finally arriving in the UK following his loan deal from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.

Ighalo was signed late on deadline day, arriving at Old Trafford on a six-month loan deal.

nited boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been desperate to sign a striker with Marcus Rashford set to be out for up to three months with a back injury.

And having arrived at Manchester airport on Sunday morning, former Watford ace Ighalo can't wait to get going at the Premier League giants.

"It's a dream come true because since I was a kid I followed and dreamt of Manchester United," Ighalo told Sky Sports News.

"But it is a reality now. I cannot say much more now until I get started. It's been crazy. Obviously, I am happy to be in Manchester first of all.

"This is a great opportunity for me and I am grateful to God, and to my agent, and the coach who has given me this opportunity to be here.

"I am happy to be here and to work out with the team and finish very well this season.

"The plan is to just chill today because I travelled a very long way from Shanghai to Manchester. Today is to just rest and tomorrow we start to work."

Man Utd signing Odion Ighalo's first words after arriving in Manchester
New Manchester United signing Odion Ighalo has landed in the U

Ighalo could make his Manchester United debut in their next match against Chelsea on February 17.

And boss Solskjaer has insisted he will give the 30-year-old the time to get himself used to his surroundings.

Solskjaer said: "We will give him time to settle. He is a striker, has a physical presence and is a goalscorer so he will give us a lot.

"You would be thrilled when you have been a Manchester United supporter your whole life and you've been working your whole life.

"Being the top scorer in the African Cup of Nations tells you a lot about the qualities we are going to get.

"He's a different type of striker. He's a proven goalscorer, physical presence. It also gives us a chance to rest Mason Greenwood and to rest Anthony Martial at times with so many games coming up.

"We want to go far in the Europa League, we want to go far in the FA Cup, we've got league games to go. It was important we had another type of striker to use. Marcus Rashford is going to be out for a little while but when he comes back as well we'll be a different team."