Revealed! See How Ighalo Made Osimhen Reject Manchester United Deal

Andrew Osimhen, a younger brother to the Nigerian Super Eagles star, Victor Osimhen has revealed that his brother turned down a move to the English Premiership side, Manchester United to avoid competition with his compatriot, Odion Ighalo.

Victor Osimhen earlier this summer, turned down a potential move to Manchester United before joining an Italian club, Napoli for £54 million from the French side, Lille.

However, his brother Andrew Osimhen has explained that United was also in for him. But the fact that fellow Nigerian Odion Ighalo already played at Old Trafford meant Victor did not contemplate the move out of respect.

He said: “It is very true that Manchester United wanted Victor but he told me something like he had too much respect for Odion Ighalo to be competing for shirts with his senior colleague,’ Andrew said

“My brother holds Ighalo in high esteem and he just didn’t see himself going to Old Trafford to battle for a striking role with the highest goal scorer at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.”

Osimhen started his career at the Ultimate Strikers Academy, based in Lagos, Nigeria. In January 2016, after being noticed for his performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Osimhen committed to a pre-contract with VFL Wolfsburg, stipulating that he would officially join the club in January 2017. The 21-year-old moved to the Italian club from Lille in a big-money deal earlier this summer.

Both forwards (Osimhen and Ighalo) have played on the Nigerian national side together. Osimhen has made nine appearances and scored four goals since his debut in 2017.

Ighalo on the other hand made his debut for the Nigeria National Team in March 2015 against Uganda. He represented the nation at the 2018 World Cup and was the highest goal scorer in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign. He eventually led Nigeria to a Third Place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he finished in the competition’s team of the tournament and was crowned top scorer.