Odion Ighalo turned down Jose Mourinho's Tottenham to join Manchester United and even took a pay cut to sign for the Reds. The two clubs face each other on Saturday night as the Premier League returns, with Michael Carrick's side hosting Spurs at Old Trafford.
Ighalo's loyalty revealed
Ighalo made his loyalties clear on this fixture when he snubbed the north London side in January 2020. The Nigerian striker spent a year on loan at United, appearing 23 times and making six goal contributions. His initial six-month spell at Shanghai Greenland Shenhua was extended by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the following January.
Speaking in 2021, Ighalo revealed that Mourinho wanted to bring him to Tottenham at the same time as United. However, there was no question over which Premier League side the striker preferred.
Pay cut for United move
He told Elegbete TV Sports: "When Tottenham heard that Manchester United were in talks with me, they started calling my agent because Harry Kane was injured then and they said Jose Mourinho wanted to speak to me.
"I am a man of principle, I got a pay cut going to Manchester United. Tottenham were ready to pay me all the wages I was earning in China, they were ready to pay a higher loan fee than Manchester United.
"My director in Shanghai Shenhua was trying to force me to accept Tottenham Hotspur. I told my agent I didn't care, that he should make the Manchester United deal happen if they are serious."
After United and current managers
After a year in England, Ighalo opted to leave China and has now been plying his trade in Saudi Arabia. He has spent time at Al Shabab, Al-Hilal and Al-Wehda.
Meanwhile, United got rid of Solskjaer in November 2021 and have since gone through six managers. Carrick will lead the club out against Spurs, now managed by Roberto De Zerbi - the ninth manager after Mourinho.
