Manchester United loan signing and first-ever Nigerian to play for the red devils, Odion Jude Ighalo has revealed that he took pay cut to play for the 20 times premier League champions.

The AFCON 2019 highest goal scorer who bagged 5 goals during the campaign revealed this in his first interview with the club.

Ighalo stated that other clubs suitored for his signature despite being a transfer deadline day but his mind was made on joining the club of his dream the moment he was informed by his agent that the club wanted him.

In the lengthy interview, the former Watford man first reiterated his support for Manchester united right from childhood and back then at Watford.

“I’m very happy. First, I want say thank God for making this happen and it's just like a dream come true for me, because I know many people used to say when they join a team, they say that they dream of playing for that team. Mine was not the case. I supported the team when I was young. People that know me, even back in Nigeria, and even when I was playing at Watford, my team-mates knew that I loved Man United, I support them. When I played against Man U, that emotion is there, because it is my dream. It is a nice reality, so I’m very happy and I’m looking forward to start.”

On how the situation unfolded that led to his now being a player for United, Ighalo said he didn't care when he was told he was going to take a pay cut to play at united.

“My agent called me the day before and said Man United. I would love to go. A few other clubs had shown interest, I said please, just pick United, if it’s going to be possible. At 11pm in Shanghai, my agent called me [to say] that United want to do the deal, so I woke up that night and started looking for a translator to go to the directors' room and hit his door and all that. My agent wants to speak to you, United are coming for me, you have to make this happen and all that you know. So they started talking and discussing. I didn’t sleep throughout that night, because it was going to end at 7am, Shanghai time, and the transfer [window] is going to close there.

”So, from 11pm, there was paperwork, negotiating and all that, for the loan deal and all that, so we are talking and other teams are calling them, wanting me, but I told my agent that this is what I want. I want to come here. He said you’re going to get a pay-cut to go to United. I said I don’t care. Make this deal happen. I want to go to United. I don’t care how much is the pay-cut, I know that, make it happen. So the director and everybody didn’t know what to say anymore, because I had already made up my mind, so my agent started putting it in order, and, at 5am, we finished. My agent said he’d forwarded all the papers to United, they will confirm for me if everything is okay. I think, around 5am-6am, he said everything is okay, it’s done. I was excited. I called my mum and she was happy, crying and all that. This is your dream and all that and I’m happy for you. It was dramatic, I didn’t sleep through, I was very happy that finally we got the deal done.“

Odion Ighalo will don the Jersey no. 25 and is expected in the line up when Manchester united take on Chelsea in their next premier league fixture billed for Monday, 17th of February.

Jersey no. 25 has a history with Nigerian players in the premier league as legendary Nwankwo Kanu wore same for Arsenal in his playing days.