Manchester United’s Ighalo handed shirt number 25
Football
By
Mirror
| Feb 05, 2020
Odion Ighalo has been handed his shirt number 25 by new club Manchester United.
That number is particularly popular in his native Nigeria, with Nwankwo Kanu having starred for Arsenal in it.
In his previous spell in England with Watford, Ighalo was allocated the number 24 kit.
Meanwhile, he’s played as the No.9 for his clubs since moving to the Chinese Super League in 2017.
Previous players to have worn number 25 for United are Antonio Valencia, Nick Powell, Danny Simpson, Quinton Fortune and Jordi Cruyff.
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Ighalo was a surprise addition on transfer deadline day as he joined on loan from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
His move came after failed attempts to sign teenage sensation Erling Braut Haaland and Bournemouth’s Josh King.
The 30-year-old’s arrival is much welcomed, with star man Marcus Rashford out for the foreseeable future.
Anthony Martial, who has scored just twice in his last eight games, and 18-year-old Mason Greenwood are the only recognised strikers on the books.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is pleased with his loan signing, telling reporters at Old Trafford: "He is a striker, has a physical presence and is a goalscorer so he will give us a lot.
"You would be thrilled when you have been a Manchester United supporter your whole life and you’ve been working your whole life.
"Being the top scorer in the African Cup of Nations tells you a lot about the qualities we are going to get.