I DID'NT GO TO CHINI FOR MONEY-IGHALO

Odion Ighalo is not a whiner. If anything, his equanimity in the face of extreme adversity is almost legendary, which is why he caught Kwesé Sports when he broke from his usual persona during this exclusive interview. When he was made the scapegoat for the Nigeria under-20 team’s failure in Egypt in 2009, even though it was not his fault, Ighalo accepted it with resignation and moved on to carry on with his career in Europe. It is the same way he has taken criticism from Nigeria fans who feel he has not scored enough goals for the Super Eagles. Of course, part of what makes Ighalo such a likeable character is how far he goes out of his way not to rock the boat, even at his own discomfort. Which is why it was a bit of a shock to hear the barely- disguised pain and anger in his voice even over the ether of a bad telephone connection from Gabon. “I thank God for everything because it’s been good for me. But now I have to leave the Pozzo family after the years I’ve been with them before I start doing something crazy.” Something crazy? That sounded like an error, so the “What did you say again?” from this end was not to blame any garbled lines, but just to be sure this was exactly what Ighalo meant to say. “Yeah, I told them I wanted to go because I wanted more games. If I’m not going to play here, I don’t want to sit on the bench, I want to be where I will be playing matches every week, otherwise, I might do something crazy.” Okay, that was no mistake, so after the confirmation, the natural question was why. That was when it emerged that China was a forced move. Ighalo did not want to move for money. Watford made him. “I had other options in England but the team wanted more money and financially for me it’s good so I thank God,” the striker told Kwesé Sports. ALSO READ: Ighalo seals China move “I would have preferred to stay in England because I want to play more in the Premier League but sometimes you take some decisions based on what’s on ground. “I’m not saying I don’t like money but I wanted to play more in England, but Watford’s asking price was too much for West Brom. “Even Crystal Palace came in at the last minute and they wanted me so I tried to stall but the club wanted more and they could not match what the Chinese people were offering. Their 13 million was smaller than the 20 million from the Chinese people.” For a man who will be making something rumoured to be north of £150 000 a week, surely there shouldn’t be that much to complain about? Anyone who thinks that about Ighalo doesn’t know the Nigerian very much “I’m not crazy about the money. If I wanted money, I could have gone three seasons ago when the money was triple what they’re offering me now. All I wanted was to go somewhere where I would play every week.” His uncharacteristic outburst over, Ighalo settles down to talk about his immediate future. “I’m going there now, it’s a different challenge. Maybe that is what I need, a different environment, a different challenge to return to my best form. “I would say it’s great to be going to China. Mikel, the national team captain is there and the level of the league is good and I can concentrate on playing football.” Changchun Yatai is not one of the major players in the newly booming Chinese Super League, so why them. Their approach, Ighalo says, impressed him. “They told me the club is not a big club like the other ones. It’s in a small, lovely city and it’s a good pace to stay. But they know what they want and I was the one they wanted so they came specifically for me. And it feels good to know when you’re wanted. Then you can give your best.” Many have said Ighalo works best in a strike partnership but the forward dismisses that, saying he can hold his own in any tactical formation “I’m a professional. It doesn’t matter if I play as a lone striker or if I play with another striker. I just do what I need to do. And that’s what I’m going to do for my new club. On Thursday, his wife posted a picture on Instagram of the family seemingly on their way out of England, thanking the Pozzo family for all the years together, and looking forward to a fresh challenge. With this out of his mind, the goals should start flowing again. For Ighalo and hopefully, for Nigeria.