Troy Deeney Says He Nearly “Killed” Ighalo Over Manchester United Match

Former Watford captain Troy Deeney has revealed he was so angry with teammate Odion Ighalo during a match against Manchester United in 2016 that he nearly “killed him.”

Speaking in a recent interview, Deeney explained that during the game, Ighalo took eight shots instead of passing — even when there were better chances to score. Deeney believed that five of those shots could have been passed to teammates, including himself.

“Iggy was a Man United fan,” Deeney said. “He wanted to score against his boyhood club, and I understand that. But on that day, I was furious.”

Deeney remembered the moment clearly, saying:

“It was a Tuesday night. After the match, we walked through the tunnel and people kept saying to me, ‘Don’t kill him.’ That’s how angry I was.”

At the time, both players were key figures at Watford. Ighalo, a lifelong Manchester United fan, was clearly eager to impress against the team he grew up supporting.

Although the match caused tension, Deeney said he eventually forgave Ighalo, and the two remained friends after their time together at the club.

In 2020, Ighalo even got the chance to play for Manchester United on loan, fulfilling a childhood dream after a spell in China with Shanghai Shenhua.