ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC is 6ft 5in, he is hard as f*** and, well, he was our Swedish hero at Manchester United – if only for one season.
So many expected him to flop when he joined United didn’t they?
After all, he was 35 when he arrived on a free transfer and had perennially struggled against English opposition, but he proved everybody wrong, and then some.
Only a cruel ligament injury stopped him from reaching the 30 goal mark and winning the Europa League in his homeland in Stockholm.
And the worst part of that injury? It was wholly unnecessary. He shouldn’t have been on the pitch when it happened because he was running on empty. Cruel is an understatement.
But United fans will absolutely look back at Ibrahimovic’s debut season with fond memories.
From netting on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth to scoring on his run out at Old Trafford.
From both goals against Southampton to his hat-trick against St-Etienne in the Europa League.
NEIL ASHTON Man Utd stars ripped into Sanchez at half-time against Sevilla and he just shrugged his shoulders
That last-minute winner against Saints in the League Cup final – Zlatan certainly had his moments.
Seeing Ibra celebrate on crutches in Stockholm alongside Eric Bailly was mint.
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It was his first major European trophy and for him to do that in Sweden? Fairytale stuff.
Mourinho had worked so well with Ibrahimovic back at Inter Milan and in Stockholm their big grins were symbolic on a night when United won the Europa League for the first time in their history.
Sure, there was a lot of frustration along the way in terms of Ibrahimovic’s overall performances in matches that passed him by but he justified those games on so many occasions by popping up with a goal when it was crunch time.
It was magnificent to see Ibrahimovic play in a Man United shirt because he is a generational icon like Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham were before him.
Imagine what Sir Alex could have done if Zlatan had played for United under him? What a partnership that could have been.
Ibrahimovic’s decision to leave United is right for all parties.
Zlatan will be a wanted man over in the MLS and a payday in the twilight of his career is inevitable.
But for that short time when he played in a United shirt, there are few who carried it with as much swagger as the Swedish striker.
Nominated for the PFA Team of the Year and included in the Europa League Team of the Year in his debut season, Ibrahimovic was ace.
He may not have conquered the Premier League like he had wanted but few can argue he was one of the best free transfer signings you’re ever likely to see.
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