Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed that he is off to Manchester United next season, with the following post on his own Instagram post:
If you're a Manchester United fan, you have good reason to be excited. Here's why:
He bloody adores Jose Mourinho
Ibrahimovic loves Mourinho, and the two enjoyed a lot of success at Inter so it is entirely plausible that Ibrahimovic would follow his favourite former boss to a new challenge.
This interview conducted with Eurosport is a great example of how strong Zlatan's feelings are regarding 'The Special One'.
I could go out and kill for Mourinho, that's the motivation he gave me.
Jose and Zlatan is a drastic change of direction for Manchester United, but, at least it would be a direction.
His distain for Pep Guardiola would be the most interesting storyline of next season.
Without a doubt, the most fascinating storyline ahead of next season would be the genuine disdain between both Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, for Pep Guardiola. Which started for Ibra six months into his time at Barcelona, and for Mourinho during his time at Real Madrid in direct rivalry with the Spaniard.
And the feelings are mutual. Man Utd vs Man City becomes one hell of a spectacle, the likes of which the British press will not know what to do with themselves over.
His age means absolutely nothing.
Speaking midweek ahead of PSG's trip to Stamford Bridge, Ibrahimovic said the following:
I have another two months with PSG, and then the Euros with my national team. What happens after that? I’m not in discussions with anybody.
It’s not the moment to talk about that. The future looks good after this season. People say I’m old but I’m only warming up. The future looks good.
And you'd believe him. His game has never been based on pace, and he is someone who stays in excellent shape, so it is entirely possible that he could continue to play at a high level for another three or four seasons. All that taekwondo has done him good.
Woodward loves a big name, and the fans would be buzzing.
This signing would tick so many boxes for Woodward and the United board.
-Huge profile player coming in means the jersey sales break all kinds of records.
-A signing that gets people/pundits/media talking.
-Genuine excitement from the fans.
-Free transfer, almost risk-free.
-Experienced player and a winner to guide the children.
His wages would be astronomical but that matters not to United, especially without having to fork over a transfer fee.
He is on course to hit 40 goals this season.
There is actual talk of Zlatan being a 'Ligue 1' cast-off, but the man damn near is Ligue 1.
You can claim that he's playing with great players in a poor league, but he has scored goals and won trophies everywhere he went, and constantly finds new and even innovative ways to find the back of the net.
Manchester United, on the other hand, are struggling for goals like they never have before. The arrival of Zlatan takes the focus away from Anthony Martial - who has done an admirable job of carrying the entire attacking burden for United on his back - and Memphis Depay, and it is highly possible that...
It could bring the best out of Wayne Rooney.
If you look back on Wayne Rooney's Manchester United career, his best periods of form - aside from an incredible goalscoring season in 2010/11 where Antonio Valencia looked like a World beater - have coincided with another star player working alongside him.
Be it Ronaldo, Tevez, Van Persie, or even Chicharito playing with him in attack, we saw Rooney play with far more consistency as if it were as needed someone else on his wavelength, or perhaps to draw defensive attention away from him and give him room to operate.
And let's not forget Zlatan said this back in September:
When he played with Cristiano Ronaldo all the work was done by Wayne Rooney but he didn't get the credit because Ronaldo was scoring all of the goals.
I'd prefer to have him in my team than play against him. I've not been lucky enough to play with him but I enjoy seeing him on the pitch - if I cannot play with him, I will watch him.
He is Zlatan.
Just picture it.
Old Trafford, first game of next season, the Manchester United team is lead out onto the pitch and last man out of the tunnel is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is a man who belongs on the big stage, and in terms of global appeal, few are bigger than Old Trafford when there is a bit of a buzz about the place.
One thing you constantly hear about the current United team from pundits is how "you look at that United team, and there's no-one that instils a bit of fear into the opposition", but no defender wants to play against Zlatan.
A great goalscorer with an eye for the spectacular, flicks that send the crowd into hysteria, a player that teammates look up to and rival fans despise due to his public persona as an egocentric showman...
Remind you of anyone? Maybe someone who liked to play with their collar turned up?
(No, not Dwight Yorke.)
It's far from a done deal, and there's no way to be sure that United genuinely are interested other than trusting the usually reliable L'Equipe, but if Jose Mourinho was to be made Manchester United manager, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were to announce his decision to follow, Manchester United fans would have genuine reason to get really excited.
