Former Super Eagles defender Ifeanyi Udeze has advised Odion Ighalo to return to Shanghai Shenhua when his loan deal with Manchester United expires, reports Completesports.com.
Ighalo arrived Manchester United on transfer deadline day and has made big impact with the Red Devile.
United are reportedly willing to make the move permanent at the end of the season with Ighalo expected to take a pay cut for the transfer to materialise.
Shanghai Shenhua are however not prepared to lose one of their prized assets easily and have offered him a new deal worth £400,000 per week .
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“At 31, what’s left? Who does he need to impress? No one – I will jump at the Shanghai’s offer immediately, Udeze told Brila FM
“£400,000 is a lot of money and Manchester United cannot afford to match that amount, so, for me, I will accept Shanghai’s deal.”
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15 Comments
Mr ifeanyi money is not everything,ighalo has enough money he is not like u,
That’s £15.6m a year you are asking him to ignore! Bros, he has nothing to prove to no one.
I will advise he go back to China and get that contract which will be a difference of £46.8m in three years.
Don’t worry, let Ighalo retire first, that is when we will know if he has enough money. We are talking of making all the money you and your entire family (both nuclear and extended) will spend for the rest of your life.
Ask Amokachi where his private jet is today, ask Ikpeba where his yatch is today, as Kanu where that his big hotel on the island is today.
When those who have been and seen it all in the game before you give you advice to grab all you can while you are still playing, they know what they mean.
@ Dr Drey
I totally understand your point of view.
The Chinese is offer is one that is hard to turn down.
But I must say, it is not all money grabbed that’s sustainable. How far money goes depends on how it is managed by the earner.
We have seen ex players that earned so little turn out more affluent than their better paid peers, who squandered theirs.
We all know how mismanagement has been a bane to most of ex players (some of the names you mentioned inclusive) rather than how much money they really earned.
Even misplaced priorities and bad invested has caused many; Udeze has repeatedly stated in the past, how some of his family members mismanaged his finances and played him based on trust he put on them.
We can also remember Wilson Oruma case.
So it isn’t the fact that they didn’t earn enough that could take them a lifetime with great planning, they just fell into a glitch.
Not saying it isn’t smart to earn much more money when the time comes but the question remains, how much money is enough money?
I am always going to look at it from different angle.
Ighalo has nothing to prove to anyone.
But everything to do for himself.
He could look at it from this angle; I could stay in Manchester United , one of the biggest club in the world, my childhood fan club, hopefully win a trophy( something I haven’t done), become a club and fan’s cult hero (I am on my way there) and maybe in the future my very deed builds the trust in Manchester united hiring more Nigerians and who says I can’t be a club ambassador to the Africa for the club when it all ends. Not forgetting I wouldn’t be playing for free, I could still be paid 150 thousand pounds a week. Besides, the geopolitical setting for China in the not so distant future looks really dicey( after the Corona virus emanating from there).
The offer in China makes sense but
There is a lot to think about before money.
My brother, I have absolutely no qualms with Ighalo staying put at Man U. It’s strictly his call to make. But what I will have problems with is him selling himself cheap just because of some childhood nostalgia, especially when it doesn’t make professional sense.
Every business relationship always has a honeymoon period. What guarantees does he have that this honeymoon will continue. Aubameyang is looking a sure banker, Sancho is in the loop, so too is Osimhen and Halland, plus the trio of Rashford, Martial and Greenwood. At 31yrs of age, where does it put Odion…???
We are not just talking about money now…we are talking about a career that is nearing its twighlight and how to make the best of it….both in terms of playtime and monetary returns.
Quinton Fortune has not been made Man U ambassador in South Africa. Eric Djemba-Djemba has not been made an ambassador in Cameroon, neither has it solely made Man U sign players from these countries…same as of JS Park, Shinji Kagawa or Ole Gunner Solskjaer….who ever is thinking players will be signed in future simply because they come from the same country where an ex ManU player Odion Ighalo came from should pls wake up.
There can never be a thing like making enough money….money has to be made where money has to be made…. especially if it’s not at the expense of your self worth. Anything less than a £250-300k p/w + guaranteed 1st XI contract offer from Man U for Odion is a short-change IMHO, and wouldn’t be any different from selling off humans for a packet of snuff.
But like I said earlier…it’s Odion’s call to make. As the elders say, the piglet that insults it’s mother’s long snout…all we can do is wish it long life.
@ Mr Hush
My brother, I have absolutely no qualms with Ighalo staying put at Man U. It’s strictly his call to make. But what I will have problems with is him selling himself cheap just because of some childhood nostalgia, especially when it doesn’t make professional sense.
Every business relationship always has a honeymoon period. What guarantees does he have that this honeymoon will continue. Aubameyang is looking a sure banker, Sancho is in the loop, so too is Osimhen and Halland, plus the trio of Rashford, Martial and Greenwood. At 31yrs of age, where does it put Odion…???
We are not just talking about money now…we are talking about a career that is nearing its twighlight and how to make the best of it….both in terms of playtime and monetary returns.
Quinton Fortune has not been made Man U ambassador in South Africa. Eric Djemba-Djemba has not been made an ambassador in Cameroon, neither has it solely made Man U sign players from these countries…same as of JS Park, Shinji Kagawa or Ole Gunner Solskjaer….who ever is thinking players will be signed in future simply because they come from the same country where an ex ManU player Odion Ighalo came from should pls wake up.
There can never be a thing like making enough money….money has to be made where money has to be made…. especially if it’s not at the expense of your self worth. Anything less than a £250-300k p/w + guaranteed 1st XI contract offer from Man U for Odion is a short-change IMHO, and wouldn’t be any different from selling off humans for a packet of snuff.
But like I said earlier…it’s Odion’s call to make. As the elders say, the piglet that insults it’s mother’s long snout…all we can do is wish it long life.
@ Dr Drey
Beautifully answered. Like I said I do understand your view and I agree totally in the fact that Ighalo would make the decision.
The notion that money has to be made where money has to be made is a capitalist doctrine which is definitely encouraging but like every doctrine there is an exception; there are some money you let go not because you don’t need it, but the surrounding situation making that money and the future pay off might not be worth it. You should always remember, there is the end.
That said , you must know Quiton Fortune actually went back to Manchester United at the twilight of his career to use the base free and in fact , did his coaching internship at the club.
Park Ji sung was actually made a Manchester United Ambassador for awhile to South East Asia. He was key to Manchester United merchandise growth in that region.
With all due respect,Kagawa and Djemba were both flops. Ighalo is on his to be a fan’s favourite.
So why can’t Ighalo get similar treatment like Fortune and Park at United when the curtain calls?
Even if it hasn’t before, why do you think he can’t be the first.
Besides, United signed Ighalo as a back up.and He knows this. So even if they sign someone else, which they would and should do, it changes nothing.the status quo remains. He remains a back up like he was signed for at the first place. He really has nothing to lose. Especially for his age, he is in a win win situation.
I would never argue about taking the chance to make money when a good offer comes in but right now,Ighalo is a good place and doesn’t need to rush in blindly towards China; not in this political climate ( with all the Corona virus theories), the future would be different. He should think wisely.
But like you said
The decision is his to make.
I always wish him well.
At the end of the day Udeze is using his own pocket and experience to measure what somebody else should do.
Ighalo is big enough and experienced enough to make his own choices. What is good for Ifeanyi in a Nigerian radio program is not necessarily what is good for Ighalo who is making more in a week than probably what Ifeanyi made in a whole year whilst he was playing. Six months of Ighalo’s loan deal, he is probably making more than Ifeanyi made in his entire career.
Levels are different as are their priorities at this time
It is hard to see how people will not put their personal preferences in the mix when giving their views on this matter.
As you alluded to, only Ighalo believes he knows what is good for Ighalo about his choices when it comes to staying in Man U or going back to China.
One thing is for sure: immediately a footballer hangs up their boots, the crazy money that they earn ceases. So, it makes sense to want to maximise that earning potential for the rather short time they have to earn such wages so as to further brighten to prospect of a (more) comfortable life after retirement.
The China money is too tempting more so as: 1) he has already played in the league so there is no suprise-factor and 2) he isn’t particularly young football-wise.
The clock is ticking.
No matter how much he has earned to date, immediately he resigns and stops earning that sort of money (with the potential to ever go back and earn such), it will be a different kettle of fish all together.
So, me I don’t blame those older footballers who want to milk the situation for what all it is worth while they have the chance to.
***(with the prospect to never go back)***
I must admit Drey has said it all just exactly my point the other day. You guys should get the whole point ManU is taking advantage of Ighalo’s desire to price him cheap and slash his pay even though he has proved book makers wrong including me. If he was to be a Brazilian even at 30plus they will never slash his pay talkless of contemplating to sign him permanent or send him back. This is just too disrespectful for a player who has change the whole attacking dynamics in the team alongside Fernandes.
Besides Ighalo has a lot to pass to the United young attackers that the coach has highlighted I will rather see that ManU increase his wage bill because he is bringing into table what they have being lacking in the attack. Drey I go with 100 percent on this. If Manu need Ighalo they should prove it and if Ighalo wants to play fool let him continue talking about childhood dream and shedding blood for those who don’t value him but rather using him.
For those of you saying pocket no be the same. I will also tell you Bills no be the same. Ighalo get sense abeg!
And my final point which should serve as a moral lesson. For those of you thinking because Ighalo is giving gifts and etcetera then automatically he doesn’t need money then you guys should go and check what has happened to ex footballers who generously give except for people like JayJay who don’t joke with a kobo. Myself I’m a living experience who has suffered from giving help to family and at a stage in life when you no longer earn as you use to this same family will backlash you. Whatever Udeze is talking is the plain truth.
Less we forget that these footballers are mostly illiterates and their money management is surely off the books. So we shouldn’t think Ighalo has it all the fact that he’s a giver but if he can see the future nobody will advice him that money can finish, that is why Bill gates and Dangote keep hustling because only a child will think that money doesn’t finish.
one thing you all forget is Ighalo family live in England and he can put family first this time, noney is not evertyhing mate.
Ighalo should just go ahead and grab this offer of a lifetime. The truth is that if ighalo stays put in United, it’s unlikely he will win the African footballer of the yaers or world footballer of the year.
If stays put and begin to perform poorly England will make a mess of him.
At 31 he does not have anything to prove again to anybody. He has played for man u and has done well. Let move on towards retirement. He has tried.
Bros that china Money is good o.
I would go for the money,£400,000 a week is a whole lot of money to ignore,though it’s a personal decision to make,whatever decision Ighalo makes is his choice but i won’t reject this big offer of a lifetime not at a retirement age.
He has lived his dream and played for his boyhood club,though he still want better experience,hoping to win something for Manchester united that would be priceless.a treasure to cherish for life.Something to show his kids probably grandkids as some of his greatest sporting achievements.
We are all different how we see things,there are experiences,achievements of a lifetime that are invaluable something that cannot be swapped for money something we can always look back to and be happy for a great career.So depends on what he really wants i reckon Ighalo is divided on what decision to take it must be really difficult decision to make which may lead to regret or applaud.
Sometimes you have to be in this position to know what is best for you.But for me my position this day on this would be the money.But if i have the kind of money and career Ighalo is having my thinking or decision could be different.