Why I Turned Down Barcelona – Ighalo

Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has revealed why he refused to join LaLiga giants, Barcelona in the January transfer window. The China-based forward was linked with a possible move to Barcelona but the transfer did not materialize.

The former Watford man ended up joining Shanghai Greenland Shenhua. Ighalo said he turned down a move to the Camp Nou because he was not assured of playing time.

The Super Eagles frontman also said that he wanted to secure his future as his contract with Changchun Yatai was running out. Score Nigeria quoted the player as saying that ”The deal was for me to play on loan for a season, but I was not ready to take chances as my playing minutes could not be guaranteed and at end of the season I will be a free agent.

”I preferred to secure my future by signing a longer deal in China instead and that was why the Barcelona move fell through.”

Barcelona had been in the market for a striker to provide cover for their hitman Luis Suarez. The LaLiga leaders eventually signed Ghanaian Kevin-Prince Boateng on loan from Sassuolo until the end of the season.