Watford FC. Manager Walter Mazzarri has insisted that Odion Ighalo is still a Watford player despite rumours that he may now take a big cash from China.
Speculations are rife that Ighalo is now set to reignite a big-money move to China after he has rejected the offer twice.
Mazzarri said: “I will speak only about players with us at this moment. I don’t want to speak about anyone or teams who want our players.”
Ighalo has been the subject of firm interest from Hebei China Fortune and Shanghai SIPG in
the last 18 months, with the former attempting to lure him with a salary of £40m over four years while the latter tested Watford’s resolve with an eye-watering bid of £37.5m.
Shanghai Shenhu, who are managed by Gus Payet, are now apparently the latest Super League club trying to move him to Asia.
He added: “I cannot be inside his head,” said Mazzarri when asked how Ighalo was amid the speculation and downturn in form. “I saw him training and he trained very well. I tell him, like I tell all my players, to go there, give everything, run for 90 minutes, fight for every ball and then you are helping the team. The goals will come but it is important you give everything.”
Meanwhile, it was gathered that Ighalo has twice snubbed big-money moves to the Far East in order to stay at Vicarage Road.
Watford rejected Shanghai SIPG’s record £37.5million offer on the eve of this season as he did not want to go.