Paul Pogba critics are ‘jealous’, says Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has come to the aid of his new team-mate Paul Pogba.

Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has defended his new team-mate Paul Pogba, saying the record-breaking midfielder will prove all of his ‘envious’ critics wrong this season.

Both Pogba and Ibrahimovic joined United this season – Ibrahimovic on a free transfer, and Pogba for a world record-breaking £89 million (Independent) – in two of the summer’s biggest and most talked about transfers.

Since making the move to Manchester however, the two have experienced varying fortunes. Talismanic forward Ibrahimovic has scored five goals in his first five appearances for the club, whilst Pogba has come under heavy criticism, after failing to register either a goal or an assist in his first three appearances.

After Pogba received further heavy criticism for his ineffective performance against Manchester City however, United’s Swedish forward was quick to defend his friend and team-mate.

“All the jealous people who talk about him will swallow all of the words they have said about him,” Ibrahimovic said in an interview with SFR Sport.

“He will only improve and will get everyone behind him. My relationship with Paul is easy: I speak, he listens. Paul is a player with a lot of talent.”

Pogba and Ibrahimovic have struck up an immediate friendship since joining the Red Devils, with the pair frequently having been pictured in each other’s company – both on the training ground as well as in their leisure time.

34-year-old Ibrahimovic has also called for greater patience when it comes to the French midfielder’s performances, partly blaming the player’s record-breaking transfer fee for unfairly piling pressure on the 23-year-old.

“I didn’t know Paul before and, now that I do, I can tell you he’s someone who works enormously. He really wants to improve and he has a super attitude. But you mustn’t forget he’s young. That’s all I can say.”

“You have to be realistic, people are putting a lot of pressure on Paul. His transfer created a huge amount of buzz.”

Pogba and Ibrahimovic are next in action against Dutch side Feyenoord on Thursday night, as United prepare to make their first appearance in this years Europa League group stage.