Transfer: We are all motivated by money not passion – Ighalo

Odion Ighalo, a striker for the Super Eagles, claims that most football players play for money rather than out of a genuine love for the sport.

Ighalo, who led all scorers in the Saudi Pro League during the 2021–2022 campaign, claimed that money was the driving force for the continued influx of top-tier international football players into the Saudi league.

He asserted that money, not love, had driven Christiano Rolando‘s record-breaking move to Al Nassr.

The former Al-Hilal striker made the assertion in an interview with popular football journalist, Oma Akatugba.

“Those players that would come out and say, we are playing football for passion this and all that, bro, it’s money [they are playing for]. At the end of it all, we are all playing [football] for money.

“Look at those that are going to Saudi Arabia, big players. Ronaldo, is it passion he is still playing for? Ronaldo has made hundred times what I’ve had in my life, he still went to Saudi Arabia. So you want to tell me it’s passion? It’s for money, bro,” he said.