Odion Ighalo Drops Bombshell, Says Saudi Pro Players Prioritise Money over Passion

Odion Ighalo Drops Bombshell, Says Saudi Pro Players Prioritise Money over Passion

By Gbenga Gboyega

Former Super Eagles forward - Odion Jude Ighalo has dropped a bombshell regarding the Saudi Pro League after claiming the players only play for the money involved rather than the passion required, bsnsports.com.ng reports.

In recent weeks, there has been improved traffic of players from top European clubs moving to the Middle East, with Saudi clubs paying top dollar to woo the best players, with Kylian Mbappe of PSG the latest to rock the headline.

While speaking with OmaSportsTV, Ighalo stated that players move to Saudi Arabia for the money and not out of their passion for football.

"When you are young, yes, you play for passion. Back then, you don't care about money. 

"But at my age, I am in the final stretch of my career, I don't know if it will be 1, 2, or more years when God will tell me to stop. I know it won't be more than 3 years.

"I've played for passion all my life, now it's for money. I'm not one of those players who come and say; 'I play for passion'. Brother, it's money. At the end of the day, it's money,"

Ighalo did not hold back in calling names as he inadvertently included former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend - Cristiano Ronaldo in the mix as part of the traffic.

"Is Ronaldo (Cristiano) still playing out of passion? Ronaldo has earned 100 times more than I have in my entire life and yet he went to Saudi Arabia. Did he do that out of passion? It's for money, bro," he added.

Ighalo moved to the Saudi Professional League in February 2021 to join Al Shabab for €2.5 million where he spent a year before heading to Al Hilal in January 2022 for €2.9 million, where he earned between €81,000 to €104,000 a week, before exhausting his contract after the end of 2022-23.