Man Utd's Odion Ighalo opens up on sister’s death after dedicating goal to her

Odion Ighalo has revealed the pain he suffered by losing his sister after they dreamt of him playing for Manchester United .

But the January loan signing has promised to dedicate every goal he scores for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to his sibling Mary who died in December aged 43.

Ighalo, 30, joined United on deadline day until the end of the season from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.

And he netted his first goal for the club in his first start to help Solskjaer's side beat Club Brugge 5-0 on Thursday in the Europa League.

Ighalo, a boyhood United fan, revealed a T-shirt in tribute to his sister when he scored in the first half at Old Trafford as they progressed to the last 16.

‘Who are LASK?’ Man Utd fans react to Europa League last 16 draw

Man Utd failed in £200k Jack Grealish deal when Villa gave starlet ‘unprecedented money’

He said: “I lost my sister in December. She is a Man United fan. We prayed for this moment to play for United.

“Unfortunately she is not here to see me doing that.

“I promised I would dedicate every goal I scored. I am happy that I did that and wherever she is, she is happy that I’m doing that and she is doing great.”

Ighalo took a pay cut to join United in January after Solskjaer went into the market following Marcus Rashford's back injury.

Man Utd land LASK in Europa League last 16 draw as dates are confirmed

He is expected to be back up to Anthony Martial who could miss Sunday's clash with Everton with a thigh strain.

And Ighalo is living out a dream having always wanted to wear the United shirt.

He said: “This is what I dreamt of. I dreamt of playing for United and scoring my first goal. I’m very happy for that.

“It feels great. Old Trafford, seeing the fans singing my name, screaming for me.

“I’m very grateful. I waited for this moment and this is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

“They see me as one of their own because I came to this team because I supported them from young and I want to give my best to do whatever it takes to move forward.

“They appreciate that and I appreciated them from the first day I stepped on the field in Manchester. “They have been behind me and I hope it continues like that. I promise them I will give my best, win, lose – I don’t care about the circumstances, I will keep giving my best.”