Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 15 league goals for Manchester United this season, and looks set for another season at Old Trafford.
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic
After joining the Red Devils from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been an instant hit in the Premier League. Some wondered whether the striker would be able to cut it in the Premier League, after years spent in France’s Ligue 1, but the forward has quickly dispelled those myths of an enormous gulf in class, proving he can perform at the highest level, even at the age of 35.
And now the Manchester Evening News are reporting that Ibrahimovic has dropped his largest hint yet that he intends to extend his stay at Old Trafford. But with a number of young strikers at Manchester United still waiting in the wings, would another year of Ibrahimovic be positive or detrimental to the club?
One player who might suffer from Ibrahimovic prolonging his stay at Old Trafford is young striker, Marcus Rashford. The United Academy starlet is widely considered to be one of the most exciting young players in English football at the moment, and looks bright and dangerous whenever he has come on for the Red Devils.
Under former boss Louis van Gaal, Rashford was getting a lot of game time, and it is arguably down to the Dutchman that the young England striker is now where he is. However, under Mourinho the striker seems to have fallen into the background, making way for the mega-star that is Zlatan.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford
Another star who appears to have been pushed backstage since Ibrahimovic’s arrival is French forward Anthony Martial. After having his number nine shirt taken from him at the start of the season and given to the Swedish striker, Martial has found his chances of playing up front for Manchester United limited, often being forced out wide instead.
There’s no doubting the impact Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had on this side. Helping to revitalise a Manchester United team which has under-performed in recent years. However, with such promising young talent seemingly being put on hold, might Manchester United rethink the option of extending the Swedish striker’s contract?
Manchester United’s Anthony Martial scores
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