Ighalo Compares And Contrasts Saudi Pro, Chinese Super Leagues, Gives Hint On Playing In The NPL

Ighalo Compares And Contrasts Saudi Pro, Chinese Super Leagues, Gives Hint On Playing In The NPL

By Gbenga Gboyega

Odion Ighalo is one of the few players that has featured in so many national leagues in his playing career, from the Italian Serie A to the Spanish La Liga, English Premier League, Chinese Super League, and Saudi Pro League.

BSNSports.com.ng writes on Igahalo's view on the leagues he has featured in and which is more tedious and competitive.

When quizzed about the key differences between China and Saudi Arabia, Ighalo gave the Saudi League more props.

"One of the differences between the Saudi Pro League and Chinese Super League is the provision for more foreign players in a team.

"In China, you can only have four foreign players in a team, but in Saudi Arabia, it has now moved from seven to eight this season.

"The Saudi League is also proposing increasing the number of teams in the first tier to eighteen from sixteen.

"Saudi Arabia wants to bid for the World Cup, which is one of the reasons they are attracting big coaches and players with enticing contracts, to improve the league and the local players."

Recently, fans have questioned the rationale behind the Saudi's recent "money washing" in football following their big spending in attracting elite players from Europe and around the world.

Ighalo had an answer to the curiosity.

"If you watched what the Saudi national team did at the World Cup, you would see they have prospects. And despite not qualifying from the group, they defeated Argentina and played well in the group stages.

"People say the money is too much, but Saudi Arabia is a rich country and they can afford the contracts they are offering."

While speaking on the foreign leagues, Ighalo also gave a hint on what can be put in place to see him feature in the Nigeria Premier League as his peer (Ahmed Musa) did before the end of his career.

"If security is guaranteed, good coverage of the games, and good officiating, then I can consider the NPL. I have played in the league before and it will be a privilege for me to feature for like six months or a year before I finish my career.

"And I am not considering the league because of money, I won't accept pay from any Nigerian club, I just want to fulfill my dream of playing in my home country's league."