Similarities between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Cantona: Artists on the pitch but with a mean streak
THERE are similarities between Cantona and Ibrahimovic.
Artists on the pitch, but with a mean streak and a special relationship — without even a semblance of love — with journalists.
In March 2016, Ibrahimovic almost sounded like Cantona when he responded to questions about a new documentary, ‘The Young Zlatan’.
He said: “I am not involved in it. How good it is? I don’t know, I haven’t seen it. There are a lot of seagulls out there.”
Zlatan is good at giving quotes and during the years there have been many and he will continue to dish them out.
And he can often back them up.
Just look at what he has won, how many goals he has scored and all the records he has accomplished in his career.
Last season, he found the net 50 times, and of those 38 were in the French league. No one has scored as many goals in Ligue 1 since the early 1970s. Of course he can deliver in the Premier League. It will depend on what kind of United that Mourinho will be able to recruit.
But the club will get a ruthless winner that is prepared to do everything to win.
Sure, it’s a short-term fix to get United back to winning ways — and also a way of selling jerseys and raising the club’s image.
But I cannot see a downside with the transfer.
Yes, injuries are part of the game and no one can guarantee anything.
Yet looking at how well Zlatan has taken care of his body, it will not depend on anything but bad luck. Retiring from the national team will give his 34-year-old body the necessary rest.
Mourinho will know exactly how Zlatan works and will use him as a lighting rod for the whole club. They really respect each other and Zlatan has often talked about Mourinho as a great coach.
It will also be a boost for the young players to learn from a winner.
He isn’t always easy to handle in the dressing room, but in a club of United’s size they have to be used to egos.
IBRA-HOME-OVIC
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC is in line for a Swedish homecoming as a Manchester United player.
The club announced that they would end their pre-season tour with a match against Galatasaray in Gothenburg on July 30.
Ibra, 34, is due for a medical in Manchester next week to complete a one-year deal with an option for another.
It is likely his first United match will then be in the 43,000 Ullevi Stadium.
The game comes on the back of two fixtures in China against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai and Manchester City in Beijing.
As long as he delivers he will be accepted, and he will do everything to win. He will not accept anything but the best.
The Theatre of Dreams is a perfect place for Zlatan. He will relish the big games that come in droves in England and I am sure he will be able to deliver on a rainy Wednesday in Stoke, too.
Will there be controversies? Absolutely. You can rely on Zlatan for that.
He will not back down from any fights, whether it’s on the pitch or off it, with the media or anybody else he believes is trying to intimidate him. But that is Zlatan.
It is what makes him different, special. And the perfect foil for Mourinho.