Cole’s ‘surprise’ phone calls inspired me more after I joined Man Utd

Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo, has sensationally revealed how England legend, Andy Cole’s phone calls had played a big role in his career before and after joined Manchester United in January.

Nigeria striker, Odion Ighalo, has sensational revealed how England legend, Andy Cole’s phone calls had played a big role in his career before and after joined Manchester United in January.

The Nigerian completed a shock loan deal to the Red Devils in January, signing a short-term contract from the Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.

The 30-year-old’s arrival drew widespread skepticism from supporters and the media alike, with many believing United, had panicked with a move for the forward who had spent the last three years playing outside of Europe. Ighalo has since hit back at his critics, insisting that they’re the same people that are praising him now.

The Nigerian has made the critics eat their words with four goals in eight appearances for the Reds and he’s revealed that a call from Cole gave him a good feeling about the move.

‘I have a lot of memories of him [Cole] he’s one of the best goalscorers I’ve ever seen,’ said Ighalo. ‘He scored a lot of goals for Manchester United. The way he finished was brilliant. I have learned one or two things from watching [old clips]. ‘It’s a privilege talking with Cole. Even when I signed for Manchester United he gave me a surprise call early in the morning to congratulate me and wishing me well even before I started training with the team. ‘I cherish that the most. it’s one of those great things, an idol like that from Manchester United before I even started kicking a ball. I appreciated it so much.’

read also:Man Utd hero ‘really pleased’ with Ighalo

Shanghai are content with allowing Ighalo to leave but they want a fee of around £15m. Ighalo, a boyhood United fan, recently revealed that Cole and strike partner Dwight Yorke were his heroes growing up. ‘I had a lot of football heroes,’ Ighalo said. ‘When I started supporting Man United, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole were my heroes growing up – and some Nigerian players as well like Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.’