Coronavirus: Ighalo May Not Join Man’U At Training In Spain

There are fears that new Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo will not join the team on a training camp in Spain this week over fears he could be denied re-entry to the United Kingdom if restrictions against the outbreak of Coronavirus are tightened.

Ighalo who was signed on loan until the end of the season on deadline day last month to the English team from Chinese club Shanghai Shenua may be held back over China’s current situation.

“Due to the current situation in China, it has been decided that new signing Odion Ighalo will not travel to Spain as it is not guaranteed that he’d clear UK immigration on return should border restrictions tighten on travellers who’ve been in China within the past 14 days,” United said in a statement.

“Odion will stay in Manchester on a personal training and fitness programme so that he will be ready to join in team training sessions when the squad return from the trip.

Read Also: Manchester United Signs Former Super Eagles Striker, Odion Ighalo On Loan

“This is simply a precautionary measure as the situation continues to be monitored.”

“Of course he might have liked to have come with the players and got to know them, but the risk (of border restrictions tightening), we don’t want to take that,” said United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ighalo prior to his new signing had played his club football in China for the past three years after joining Changchun Yatai from Watford.