The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ibrahimovic

  • Ibrahimovic moving closer to full recovery

    Ibrahimovic moving closer to full recovery

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked the picture of relaxation as he reclined in a sun lounger by a swimming pool in Miami resting his swollen knee following season-ending surgery.

    The Manchester United star was seen without the leg brace that he was pictured in just last week after he underwent a successful operation in America.

    The 35-year-old’s debut season in England came to an abrupt end after he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury in the Europa League quarter final win over Anderlecht.

    Ibrahimovic landed awkwardly on his right knee at the end of normal time in the 2-1 win over the Belgian side last month and had to be helped off the pitch.

    Though he may have played his last game at Old Trafford, the Swedish star looked unconcerned as he lay back with his hands on his head while wearing sunglasses, but his knee is evidently swollen.

    The Swedish striker underwent successful surgery with knee specialist Dr Freddie Fu, at the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center, to repair the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and is confident of a full recovery.

    And Ibrahimovic is now embracing his recovery period as he waits for his return to first-team action.

    Following his free transfer to United the veteran has excelled during a prolific season in which he has mustered 28 goals and nine assists in 46 appearances.

    In an Instagram post a week ago he wrote: ‘Fixed, done and stronger. Once again thank you for the support. We will enjoy my game together soon.’

    The player had stalled on extending his £250,000-a-week contract at United before suffering the injury, and there are doubts that he will make a full recovery at the age of 35.

    However, United, who paid for his travel to the United States, will give the Swedish star full access to their training and medical facilities at Carrington beyond the end of his current contract on June 30 even though he is expected to be out of action until the start of next year.

    One option is for United to agree an insurance waiver with Ibrahimovic in much the same way that goalkeeper Victor Valdes trained at Carrington at the end of 2014 before signing for the club.

    Despite concerns over his powers of recovery, Ibrahimovic’s agent Raiola claims that the surgeons who performed the operation were amazed by his knee which is ‘so strong’.

    Raiola told Swedish publication Expressen.se: ‘Zlatan has started rehabilitation at the hospital. His knee is so strong that the doctors said they had never seen anything like it.

  • Ibrah parleys with LA Galaxy over summer move

    Ibrah parleys with LA Galaxy over summer move

     

     

    Los Angeles Galaxy have had ‘conversations’ with Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic over a summer move, according to the Major League Soccer club’s former general manager Alexi Lalas.

    Ibrahimovic has been in fine form since arriving at Old Trafford on a free transfer from Paris St Germain at the start of the season, notching 26 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils.

    The 35-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign, failed to add to his tally in the Europa League clash with Rostov on Thursday night but Lalas believes a switch to America may appeal to the Swede.

    Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live, Lalas, who left the Galaxy in 2014, said: ‘There have been conversations and, I think, a relationship for some time regarding this possible move.

    ‘The Galaxy are Major League Soccer’s ‘super club’. They do big, bold things. They have sexy signings, that’s what they have built themselves as, that’s what they sell themselves as, and this type of signing would fall right into play with that.’

    Reports in the United States suggest the Galaxy would be willing to make Ibrahimovic the highest-paid player in MLS history.

    ‘I think they do have a chance (of signing Ibrahimovic). Whether it’s this summer or maybe a year from now I still think there is going to be an interest.’

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, is pleased to have arrived home with an away goal and a fully-fit squad having secured a hard-fought Europa League draw on Rostov’s dreadful pitch.

    United made the 1,875-mile journey back from southern Russia immediately after the last-16 first leg at the Olimp-2 stadium, where the sandy, rock-solid playing surface infuriated the Portuguese.

  • Why Manchester’s Ibrahimovic is called ‘the Big Man’

    Why Manchester’s Ibrahimovic is called ‘the Big Man’

    Manchester United striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is called ‘the Big Man’ by his team-mates, because of his huge manhood.

    According to The UK Sun, the other members of the squad became aware of his large package, because he strolls around the dressing room naked.

    Old Trafford staff initially believed the nickname was because of his 6ft 4in frame, until the story went round.

    “Zlatan’s obviously a big bloke and now it appears it’s in more ways than one,” a source told The Sun.

    “The players call him Big Man as a bit of a joke about his package.

    “When the others put towels on after a shower, he walks about naked. He doesn’t lack confidence and it’s easy to see why.”

    Ibrahimovic was lucky to avoid a red card  as United were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth, but is facing a retrospective three-match ban for elbowing Cherries defender Tyrone Mings in the first half.

  • Violent conduct: Ibrah and Mings face FA hammer

    Violent conduct: Ibrah and Mings face FA hammer

     

     

    Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings have been charged with alleged violent conduct by the Football Association following separate incidents during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Bournemouth on Saturday.

    The pair clashed shortly before half-time, with Mings seen to stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head before the striker then caught his opponent with his elbow. Neither player was dismissed by referee Kevin Friend during the game.

    A statement from the FA said the incidents “were not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on video.”

    It continued: “Furthermore, The FA has submitted a claim that the standard punishment that would otherwise apply for the misconduct committed by the Bournemouth defender is ‘clearly insufficient.’”

    Ibrahimovic and Mings have until 6 p.m. on Tuesday to reply to their respective charges.

    Ibrahimovic is United’s top goal-scorer this season with 15 goals in 25 Premier League games and 26 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.

  • Ibrah: My sons convinced me to join Man U

    Ibrah: My sons convinced me to join Man U

     

     

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he was convinced to join Manchester United by his two children and is relishing proving himself when many doubted he would succeed in English football.

    The talismanic United striker scored twice, including the late winner, against Southampton in the EFL Cup final at Wembley to claim the 32nd trophy of his career and Jose Mourinho’s first in Manchester.

    Ibrahimovic is well aware his ability to make it in England has been constantly questioned by his critics throughout his career, even though he has won titles in Spain, Italy, France and Holland, in part down to his repeatedly unimpressive displays against English opposition in Europe.

    After lifting the League Cup on Sunday he is basking in proving his doubters wrong. He said: ‘It is special, not about age, I was not worried about age because I know what I am able to do.

    ‘It is because I am here in England. After all these years [people said] “he didn’t come and show himself here” but I came. And I came when people thought it was impossible for me to do what I am able to do. It feels good. I am enjoying it.’

    But Ibrahimovic is unlikely even to be at United if it was not for Mourinho and the persistence of his two boys, Maximilian, 10, and Vincent, eight. The Swede was planning to move elsewhere until Mourinho called him in the summer, when he was out of contract after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, and his children persuaded him to choose Old Trafford.

    ‘My mind was not here,’ he admitted. ‘Then my kids started to bump my head and Jose called, then I am here. In your career you have moments. I did not come to England before because it was not the moment. I came when I thought it was the moment and the moment was there.

    ‘If we speak about the coach, England, the Premier League, the club has to thank him because he called me and asked me to come here, otherwise I would not have been here. Even my two kids wanted to see me play at United.

  • Ibrah wins December player of the month

    Ibrah wins December player of the month

     

    Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named Premier League player of the month for December.
    The former Sweden international turned 35 in October but has been revitalised at Old Trafford, scoring 12 goals in 12 appearances in the final two months of 2016.
    He began December with a lobbed strike in a 1-1 draw at Everton and scored a further five Premier League goals as United embarked on a six-game winning streak in the league. Ibrah took a swipe at critics who has predicted that he will not make an impact in the premier league .
    Speaking ahead of the Super Sunday clash against Liverpool, the 35-year-old said the criticism he has received in the past gives him energy, and insists he did not take the easy way out by joining United.
    “I have no problem [with the criticism] because I went through this my whole career, this is something that triggers me, gives me energy.

  • Ibrahimovic wins defamation case over doping

    Ibrahimovic wins defamation case over doping

     

    Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won a defamation lawsuit in Sweden against a former athletics coach who accused him of doping during his time at Juventus.
    Ulf Karlsson, who was the head coach of Sweden’s national athletics team from 2001 to 2004, was fined 24,000 kronor (£2,171) for comments he made during a panel discussion at a sports conference in April. Karlsson said he thought Ibrahimovic, 34, must have doped in order to bulk up so quickly at Juve.
    “Zlatan gained 10 kilos of muscle in six months at Juventus. That is impossible in such a short time,” Karlsson said.
    He made similar comments in an interview with local newspaper Nya Wermlands-Tidning, saying: “I think he was doped. I am convinced.”
    A district court in Varmland, in west-central Sweden, on Monday convicted Karlsson of defaming the player with the comments made during the panel discussion.
    However, he was acquitted over the interview with the newspaper as Swedish law offers more protection to remarks made to journalists.
    “I’m glad the district court has agreed with me that he should not be convicted for what he has said to a journalist. That’s an important principle,” Karlsson’s attorney Johan Eriksson told public broadcaster SVT.
    Ibrahimovic played for Juventus from 2004 to 2006 after leaving Ajax.

  • Ibrahimovic, Di Maria in PSG squad for Monaco clash

    Ibrahimovic, Di Maria in PSG squad for Monaco clash

    PARIS Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Angel di Maria are in the squad for Sunday’s clash with Monaco.

    Ibrahimovic has not made a Ligue 1 appearance for PSG this season because of a knee problem sustained in the Trophee des Champions win over Lyon at the beginning of the month, while a hamstring injury has prevented Di Maria from making his debut for the club following his move from Manchester United.

    Despite their absences, Blanc’s men have started their title defence with three straight wins, but their return to fitness will provide PSG with a welcome boost for an away game with a team they have not beaten in the league since 2007.

    “Ibrahimovic will be in the group to face Monaco,” Blanc said. “We’ll see if he starts the game or not.

    “We need to be more effective offensively. Di Maria will bring a huge amount of technicality to our game.”

  • Ibrahimovic: Referee was right to follow the rules

    Ibrahimovic: Referee was right to follow the rules

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic says the referee made the right decision to allow him to re-take the penalty which ensured a 1-1 draw between Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Swede saw his second-half spot-kick saved by the excellent Anthony Lopes, only for referee Clement Turpin to order a re-take after judging the goalkeeper to have encroached from his line.

    Ibrahimovic despatched the effort at the second attempt to seal a point for the champions at Stade de Gerland and feels a draw was the least they deserved given the opportunities they created.

    “We had a lot of chances but only scored once,” he told reporters.

    “The penalty re-take? If you follow the rules, it makes sense.

    “It was a good game but we should have won. Lopes made some saves but we had some chances where we should have scored.”

    David Luiz believes Lopes’ efforts proved PSG were the stronger side and denied suggestions head coach Laurent Blanc gave the team the hairdryer treatment at half-time.

    “We played a strong team. The goalkeeper was their best player, which tells you something. He was very good,” said the defender.

    “If we play like that, we’ll get results.

    “Blanc angry at the break? I don’t think so. He was frustrated because we played better than Lyon but were 1-0 down.”

    Lyon chief Jean-Michel Aulas, meanwhile, was left furious with the performance of referee Turpin, especially as his side were denied a penalty shout of their own when the ball struck Blaise Matuidi’s hand in the area.

    “We had our chances and an outstanding goalkeeper, but it’s more to do with meeting regulations,” he told Canal Plus when asked about the result.

    “It [the Matuidi incident] was an indisputable penalty. I’m very annoyed.

    “When you tell me that it wasn’t a deserved penalty, I think you’re taking me for an idiot.”

  • Ibrahimovic: I don’t wish to return to Juventus

    Ibrahimovic: I don’t wish to return to Juventus

    Stefan Hansson claimed that the striker told him that he was keen on rejoining the Bianconeri before he retires – but the 32-year-old says that the pair have never even met.

    Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has dismissed the suggestion that he wants to return to Juventus.

    Italian publication Tuttosport recently published an interview with Swedish coach Stefan Hansson, who claimed to have befriended the striker at Malmo and suggested that the 32-year-old wants to rejoin the Serie A champions, whom he played for between 2004 and 2006.

    However, Ibrahimovic has now claimed that not only is he uninterested in going back to Juve, he does not even know Hansson.

    “A person named Stefan Hansson has been making comments about me,” the Sweden international said via his personal app Zlatan Unplugged.

    “I would like to clarify that I do not know this person. I have never met him, he has never been my coach and we have never talked on Skype.

    “Normally, I would not even comment on matter like this, but his comments have reached unreasonable proportions, so I felt compelled to react.”

    Ibrahimovic, who netted twice in PSG’s 2-2 Ligue 1 draw against Reims at the weekend, has a contract with the Ligue 1 champions until June 2016.