Former Super Eagles striker Odion Jude Ighalo has revealed when he will likely retire from playing active football as he reaches the twilight of his eventful soccer career.
The 34-year-old, who joined Al-Wehda last August from Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, told Oma Sports TV that he may likely hang his boots in the next three years.
Ighalo, who stated that he has played soccer for passion all his life, noted that he is now playing for money because, at the end of the day, it is all about money.
“I don’t know when God says stop, but I know it’s not going to be more than three years before I stop. I’ve played for passion all my life; I have to play for money now,” Ighalo told Oma Sports TV.
“I’m not one of those players who will say I am playing football for passion. I am playing for money; at the end of the day, it is about the money.
The Nigerian football player, who made his senior debut during the Eagles’ 1-0 friendly loss to Uganda in 2015, further contended that it is not only Africans who like playing football for financial gain.
“See people that are going to Saudi Arabia, big players. Is Ronaldo still playing for passion? He has made more than 100 times what I have in my life, but he still went to Saudi Arabia. Do you want to tell me that that is passion? No, it’s for money.
“It’s only when we Africans say it that they will say we like money. But these people don’t care; some of them want to be the highest paid and all that.”
