BSP-19 Zlatan says Man Utd spell made him feel ‘like Benjamin Button’

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Zlatan says Man Utd spell made him feel ‘like Benjamin Button’

LONDON, Nov 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he was told
by “everyone” not to risk his reputation by playing in England but how a
successful spell at Manchester United made him feel young again — “like
Benjamin Button”.

The 37-year-old Swedish forward made a high-profile switch to Old Trafford
in July 2016 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, initially on a one-season
contract.

Ibrahimovic made a major impact at Old Trafford, scoring twice to help
Jose Mourinho’s side win the 2017 League Cup final against Southampton before
suffering a serious knee injury during the Europa League quarter-final with
Anderlecht.

The veteran frontman recovered and signed a contract extension but
eventually left United to join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy in
March 2018.

In an interview with BBC 5 Live, the much-travelled Ibrahimovic recalled
the advice he had received when he was contemplating life in the Premier
League.

“When I went to England I was talking to different players that I knew
well and trusted that would give me an honest opinion. From all of them
everyone said ‘do not do it’ — they said it would not be good for my career
because you put your whole career on one season,” he said.

“If you do not do a good season, people will say the rest of the things
you did before were useless because you didn’t make it in England but that
triggered me and that’s the challenge I wanted.”

Ibrahimovic, who also played for Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and both Milan
giants, added: “I went against everyone and said that’s what I wanted to do.
They thought I was too old… and I made the Premier League look old.

“It took me three months to convince everyone who I was. That was the
challenge and I never turn down a challenge.”

Ibrahimovic, who said he had an “amazing” connection with United
midfielder Paul Pogba at Old Trafford, said he had felt “unbreakable… like
Superman” before suffering his serious knee injury.

“The first year at United we had a fantastic year,” he added. “They made
me feel like Benjamin Button. I was getting younger and younger, then
unfortunately I got my injury.”

BSS/AFP/BZC/2005HRS