Manchester United striker Odion Ighalo will not join up with his new teammates on a training camp in Spain this week due to fears he could be denied re-entry to the United Kingdom if restrictions against the outbreak of Coronavirus are tightened.
Ighalo joined United on loan until the end of the season on deadline day last month from Chinese club Shanghai Shenua.
"Due to the current situation in China, it has been decided that new signing Odion Ighalo will not travel to Spain as it is not guaranteed that he’d clear UK immigration on return should border restrictions tighten on travellers who’ve been in China within the past 14 days," United said in a statement.
BREAKING NEWS:
— Sky Sports News ? (@SkySportsNewsCN) February 8, 2020
Man United forward Odion Ighalo has officialy been diagnosed with the Corona virus after growing fear that he contracted it in China
The Nigerian attacker is currently in quarantine at his Manchester home with a transfer to the nearest hospital expected shortly pic.twitter.com/F6PC4rTUPS
"Odion will stay in Manchester on a personal training and fitness programme so that he will be ready to join in team training sessions when the squad return from the trip.
"This is simply a precautionary measure as the situation continues to be monitored."
Ighalo, who has played his club football in China for the past three years after joining Changchun Yatai from Watford, was signed as emergency cover for the injured Marcus Rashford.
“Of course he might have liked to have come with the players and got to know them, but the risk (of border restrictions tightening), we don’t want to take that," said United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United's Odion Ighalo may have to miss the club's Spanish training camp because of coronavirus fears.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 8, 2020
The striker is currently in the UK, but because he recently arrived from China - he may be barred from re-entering the country.
In full ➡ https://t.co/EEAu9kUDLb pic.twitter.com/biOawoh5hF
Rashford and Paul Pogba are also noticeable absentees from the United squad headed to Spain as they will continue their recovery in Manchester.
United are not in action again until they travel to Chelsea in a crucial battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League on February 17.