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Playing in second division not in my plans -Ighalo

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Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has confirmed he will be leaving Changchun Yatai after the club was relegated from the Chinese Super League in the just-concluded season.

The 29-year old was brilliant in front of goal as he finished as the league’s second top scorer with 21 goals, which however was not enough to save his club from relegation.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Ighalo revealed that he has been receiving calls from various clubs and he is still weighing his options as to where to play ahead of next season.

“Playing in the second division is not in my plans, so I need to weigh my options well,” he said.

“There’s the African Cup of Nations next year to think about and I need to keep playing at a highly competitive level.

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“I don’t know yet about my future. I cannot make a hasty decision so I’ll use the next few weeks to decide.

“I have been getting direct calls from different agents and clubs, but now enjoying my Christmas break with the family and it is the job of my agent to speak to them.”

Formerly in Watford, Ighalo’s move in January 2017 has seen him score 36 goals in 55 appearances.

“It is rather ironic that my best season in China ended in a relegation, I have never been relegated in my career so it hurts as the captain of a fantastic club with amazing people and incredible fans,” he added.

“In life you can only make the move upward and forward.”

On the international scene, Ighalo has 10 goals in 25 appearances for the Super Eagles and his six goals during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers helped Nigeria seal a return to the tournament.

 

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