Odion Ighalo messaged Watford forward Isaac Success ‘straight away’ to express his excitement that he would be returning to the Premier League with Manchester United.
The 30-year-old striker completed a loan move from Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to United on the final day of the January transfer window, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seriously short of options up front following Marcus Rashford’s back injury.
A lifelong fan of the Red Devils, Ighalo was understandably delighted that the two clubs were able to get a temporary deal over the line and the attacker has since made two appearances against Chelsea and Club Brugge.
The Nigerian is in line to make his home debut this weekend versus his former team Watford, a side that stunned United with a 2-0 victory in the reverse Premier League fixture back in mid-December.
Ighalo is still close with several of Watford’s players and coaching staff after a two-and-a-half year spell at Vicarage Road and one player he knows very well is fellow countryman Success.
‘I’m so pleased for him,’ Success told Watford’s official website ahead of Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford.
‘He’s always wanted this, and it’s finally happened. When he finishes his career, he’ll be able to look back and say, “I did it. I finally made it to where I wanted to get to.”
‘He messaged me straight away saying, “I’m back, I’m back.” He’s so happy there and ready to start working for the team and see what he can achieve there.
‘He’s a very hard worker and waited so patiently for this opportunity. He’s getting what he deserves.’
Success added: ‘I know him very well.
‘He played in Granada when I was there, and he told me how good it would be to come to Watford in a new environment and the Premier League.
‘We still talk all the time after he left Watford, and I can talk to him even more now he’s back in England. He is always encouraging me. He’s part of my family, like a big brother to me. I appreciate that.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing him on Sunday.’
Ighalo is desperate to make his first start against the Hornets after two substitute appearances away to Chelsea and Club Brugge.
‘I have played in Premier League before, I know what is required,’ he said.
‘I know you have to be very strong and physical, get to hold some balls up for your team to push forwards, so I am working towards that. I am getting better and better.
‘We have good players there. Unfortunately, Rashford is injured, he is a good striker, sometimes he played from the side, so we will have to cope with that.
‘I am happy whenever I am called upon to do anything, I am ready to go.’
