Ighalo could be next Cantona for Man United, says ex-Red Devils goalkeeper

Mark Bosnich, former Manchester United goalkeeper, says Odion Ighalo, ex-Super Eagles forward, could have the same impact as Eric Cantona for the English giant.

The former Red Devils shot-stopper disclosed this to Sky Sports News, adding that the former Watford striker could go on to surprise a few people.

Ighalo sealed a last-minute Deadline Day loan move to United from Shanghai Shenhua, Chinese Super League side, after a desperate search for a striker.

While his arrival has raised a few eyebrows, the 48-year-old former goalkeeper believes that the Nigerian international transfer could even replicate the success of Cantona; when he left Leeds United for the Red Devils in 1992.

“You never know. A long, long time ago Manchester United signed a certain Frenchman (Eric Cantona) who no one really expected much from and he ended up propelling them to one of their most successful seasons of all time,” he said.

“This was an emergency signing. I can understand a lot of people taking about a scatter gun approach, well it had to be with Marcus Rashford being out.

“The top four is still possible for Manchester United, they had to go and get somebody.

“The boy that’s come in (Ighalo) has got nothing to lose, nobody expects anything unbelievable from him but they definitely needed somebody in that position.”

The 30-year-old Lagos-based star is expected to travel with the rest of his teammates to their winter training camp.

The Shanghai Shenhua striker could make his debut against fourth-placed Chelsea on February 17.