Ighalo, Iheanacho name players responsible for their early success in England

Super Eagles’ Strikers, Odion Ighalo and Kelechi Iheanacho have attributed their quick acclimatisation in England to some players, who took them under their wings when they arrived in Manchester.

Iheanacho began his sojourn in England at Manchester City before moving to Leicester, while Ighalo is on loan at Manchester United.

In a report published by mirror.co.uk, Ighalo picks De Gea, Juan Mata and Sergio Romero as the three ‘brothers’ who have helped him settle into life at Old Trafford.

The former Watford striker has enjoyed an impressive run of form on his return to England after joining United in January.

Ighalo has netted four goals in three starts since his loan switch from Shanghai Shenhua, and is now in line to make his stay permanent.

“I have a lot of guys there who have helped me. The guys in the dressing room are very good guys,” Ighalo said on an Instagram Q&A.

“The first time I stepped my feet in that dressing room – wow. There are two or three players that took me and made me feel welcome and comfortable.

“After two or three days we started living like brothers, like I’ve been there for five years, laughing together and cracking jokes together.

“Especially Juan Mata, De Gea and the other goalkeeper Romero, because they speak Spanish and I speak Spanish.”

Ighalo spent four years on loan at Granada in Spain, hence his ability to converse with his teammates in the language.

To Iheanacho, who has also been reflecting on his time coming through at Manchester City, Gael Clichy stands out for praise for helping him get to grips with life in England.

According to manchester evening news.co.uk, Iheanacho still looks back fondly on his time in Manchester where he first made his mark in the Premier League and has particularly positive memories about left-back Gael Clichy, who also moved on to a challenge in that transfer window.

Speaking on an Instagram Live video about his development at the Etihad, the 23-year-old said: “This one is so dear to my heart: Gael Clichy. He’s like my teacher on the pitch, in the training, outside the pitch, anywhere.

“I will mention his name anywhere I go, he’s so dear to my heart”.