Ighalo: I’d save my money as a boy to see Man Utd at local viewing centre

Odion Ighalo has admitted he would save his money as a young boy in Nigeria to watch Manchester United at the local viewing centre.

Ighalo is now living out his dream leading the line for United.

He recalled to BBC Sport: “When I was growing up, I knew a lot about football because I saw some of my grown-up siblings watching football on TV and they supported Manchester United.

“Sometimes you would listen to commentary on the radio. Sometimes you would go out to watch at the viewing centre because some of us didn’t have the opportunity to subscribe or pay to watch.

“During the week, you had to save every day from Monday to Friday to be able to do that, so I’m happy I did that because my life was all about football. I played football and I watched my team and it was one of those things I cherished every weekend.

“You’d get ready, wash your jersey, and go out and support your darling team. You had to save for it because without, you can’t watch.

“Sometimes you would just go there and see, if you were lucky if someone would pay for you or sneak you in, but sometimes it wasn’t possible. Sometimes you would just hear if they scored – when they shouted ‘goal’ when Man Utd scored – and you would wait outside until the game finished, you got the result of the game and then you would go home happy.

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“To be the first Nigerian to play for Manchester United is a great achievement for me which I am going to cherish for the rest of my life because it’s not easy to dream something and it comes true. It’s a great feeling.”