Former Manchester United and Nigeria striker Odion Jude Ighalo has revealed that he would love to play in the Nigeria Professional Football League where his journey began once more, Footynaija.com reports.
Ighalo began his sojourn into professional football in Nigeria, playing for Prime and Julius Berger FC before securing a move to Europe after getting snapped up by Norwegian football club Lyn in 2007.
Since then, the 35-year-old veteran has turned out for ten different clubs across Europe and Asia including Udinese, Caesena, Granada, Watford, Changchun Yatai, Shanghai Shenhua, Manchester United, Al Shabab, Al Hilal and his current employers Al Wehda.
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What Ighalo said
Despite spending almost two decades away from Nigeria’s domestic league and amassing 242 career goals for both club and country during that time, Ighalo fancies the idea of seeing out his career in the NPFL. He however admitted that a return would only be possible if he could guarantee his safety.
“I would love to play, but I have to guarantee my security, and I would have to honour what I say because it’s not just about playing,” he revealed on the Abu Azeez Podcast.
“There are so many things involved in it, you understand. Going from playing almost twenty years outside of Nigeria to coming back to your home town. I know it’s going to be tough, but if certain things are put in place, why not? I’d love to.
“If they can make progress and sort out some things in the league, it’ll be good and I believe you’ll see more ex-Internationals or more Nigerian players that have played abroad will come back to come and finish their careers in Nigeria, but when many things are not guaranteed, making such decision is difficult.”
It remains to be seen whether Ighalo will follow in the footsteps of other prominent NPFL returnees like former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and former West Bromwich Albion forward Brown Ideye.
