The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

  • Manchester United’s dip in form made it tough for me to score – Lukaku

    Manchester United’s dip in form made it tough for me to score – Lukaku

    Striker Romelu Lukaku believes his recent goal drought at Manchester United resulted from the club not playing at the level they did at the start of the English Premier League season.

    The 24-year-old has scored seven goals from 11 league games but has failed to find the net in the last four.

    United, who have lost two of their last three matches, have dropped to second in the table, eight points below runaway leaders Manchester City.

    Lukaku struck a brace for Belgium in Friday’s 3-3 draw in the friendly against Mexico.

    He has gone on to say he hoped to regain his scoring touch to help his club catch up with the leaders.

    “We started by blowing teams away, being dominant and creating chances. But in the last few weeks, we didn’t play at the same level and that made it more difficult for me,” Lukaku told Sky Sports.

    “That’s the sort of thing you have to go through in the season. But now there are players coming back from injury and hopefully we can deliver performances even better than at the start of the season. We can create more chances and goals.”

    Lukaku said the return of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from injury will motivate him to do even better.

    The Swede is currently working his way towards regaining full fitness after suffering a knee injury last season.

    “It motivates me really because he’s another good player to add to the squad… When you face a team like us, it’s difficult for opponents,” Lukaku said.

    “Ibrahimovic coming back will help us to chase Manchester City (in the title race).”

    Lukaku’s brace in Brussels took his international tally to 30 goals to match Bernard Voorhoof and Paul van Himst.

    He can overtake them when Belgium face Japan in a friendly on Tuesday.

    “I feel great… I was born to score,” added Lukaku. “I don’t think many strikers of my generation have as many goals as me. I am like a leopard in the box.”

    NAN

  • Ibrah hails ‘people’s champion’ Anthony Joshua

    Ibrah hails ‘people’s champion’ Anthony Joshua

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hailed Anthony Joshua as the People’s Champion, even though the majority of the record-busting 78,000 crowd in Cardiff on Saturday night booed the world heavyweight champion’s premature stoppage of Carlos Takam.

    The Manchester United goalscorer, a visitor to Joshua’s dressing-room in the Principality Stadium, said: ‘he’s the perfect example of how a boxer needs to be today. He’s powerful. He has the movement. He’s a knock-out artist. Even the character.

    ‘The personality is good because he’s perfect without trying.’

    This was Ibrahimovic’s first pilgrimage to one of Joshua’s mass rallies of the faithful. The footballer said of the prizefighter: ‘He has good vibes all around him. He has the energy. He expresses himself well.

    ‘That’s why people love him. That’s why he is the People’s Champion.’

    The people were disappointed on the night. Not so much by Joshua but by the tenth round stoppage which denied Takam, the supremely courageous French Cameroonian, the privilege of making it to the final bell.

    But Takam was so badly cut and swollen around the eyes that he had trouble seeing Joshua’s punches coming.

    Joshua will go on to stiffer championship challenges next year, not least against America’s WBC title holder Deontay Wilder at some point in 2018.

    Ibrahimovic plans to be at those fights whenever possible although he left AJ this night with a typically cheeky aside.

    When asked if Joshua is as good a boxer as he is a footballer, he replied: ‘Not yet. But he’s getting there.’

    As well as humour, there was an element of truth in the remark.

  • Determined Ibrah takes to free style in recovery bid

    Determined Ibrah takes to free style in recovery bid

     

    After suffering a serious knee injury which ended his Manchester United career towards the end of last season, most thought it would be many months before Zlatan Ibrahimovic was seen kicking a ball again.
    However, despite suffering ligament damage in April, the striker has been filmed kicking a ball once again as he looks to recover and return to playing.
    He did look rusty, however, as his keepy-up abilities were put to shame by a freestyler in videos posted to Instagram
    Ibrahimovic took on trickster Tobias Becs in Stockholm, and was certainly left impressed with the skills on display.
    Becs demonstrated the full range, with keepy-ups, round the worlds, and headers, before doing a handstand with the ball balanced on the sole of his shoe, to which Zlatan could only applaud.
    The former Sweden international then had a go himself, but looked to be lacking his usual sharpness, struggling initially to get the ball under control before losing it after a mistimed heel flick.
    Despite besting Sweden’s record goalscorer however, Becs seemed starstruck, posing for a picture with the forward and describing him as a ‘legend’ on social media.
    Becs wrote of Zlatan, who is currently without a club after leaving United: ‘Not only a great football player, but also a great person.’
    Despite his injury Zlatan is being linked with a number of clubs, with former employers AC Milan the latest to enter the race for his signature. A return to Old Trafford has however not been completely ruled out either.

  • Ibrahimovic compares himself to King Kong

    Ibrahimovic compares himself to King Kong

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic – ever the egotist – has compared himself to ‘King Kong’ in his latest Instagram post, which suggests he thinks his rehabilitation is going well.

    The 35-year-old has been out of action since April when he suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Anderlecht.

    But that hasn’t prevented Ibrahimovic from staying in shape, as evidenced by his latest post, showing him flexing his muscles while wearing nothing but a pair of white boxer shorts.

    The iconic striker is currently a free agent after United decided against renewing his £367,000-a-week contract at the end of last season.

    United could not commit to a new deal as Ibrahimovic is set to remain sidelined until early 2018, but the 35-year-old has continued training with the Red Devils.

    And it seems his non-footballing fitness work is going well, judging by the Instagram post he shared with his 26.5million followers on Thursday.

    Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals for United last season – two more than £75million summer signing Romelu Lukaku managed for former club Everton.

    Many Red Devils fans hope the Swede has not played his last game for the club.

    United manager Jose Mourinho hinted earlier this week that Ibrahimovic could indeed re-sign for the club once he has fully recovered from his serious knee injury.

    ‘We spent big money on a striker because, with strikers, you either spend or you don’t get,’ Mourinho said.

    ‘And we spent because of what happened to Zlatan and we cannot allow ourselves to be without an important, strong striker for the first six months of the season.’

  • Ibrah attracting interest from Serie A and MLS

    Ibrah attracting interest from Serie A and MLS

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic has offers from Italy and the United States after being released by Manchester United, according to the striker’s agent Mino Raiola.

    United decided not to offer Ibrahimovic a contract extension at Old Trafford with the former Sweden international facing six months on the sidelines following knee surgery.

    The 35-year-old will continue his rehabilitation at Carrington and sources have told ESPN FC there remains a possibility he could sign a short-term deal once he is fully fit.

    However, Ibrahimovic can sign for another team at any time, and Raiola has said there is interest from Major League Soccer in the United States and Italy’s Serie A.

    Ibrahimovic has been linked with moves to both LA Galaxy and former club AC Milan, although Raiola has all but ruled out a transfer to Napoli.

    “Many clubs are interested in Ibrahimovic, from MLS in the USA, but also in Italy would be possible,” he told reporters. “Napoli? Everything is possible, but I think Napoli will not be his next club.”

    Ibrahimovic, asked by the VG newspaper how his knee injury was during a trip to Norway this week, replied: “Very good. Everything is very good.”

    United are on the lookout for a striker to replace Ibrahimovic.

    Alvaro Morata is Jose Mourinho’s preferred choice, and sources have told ESPN FC that the Spain international would welcome a move to the Premier League.

    There is hope that a move for Morata could speed up after reports in Spain suggested former United player Cristiano Ronaldo is now prepared to stay at Real Madrid. Sources had told ESPN FC that United were treating reports Ronaldo would welcome a return with caution amid concerns that the uncertainty surrounding him could delay a move for Morata

    Andrea Belotti is also an option for United although Torino are insisting that the €100 million release clause in his contract, available for clubs outside Italy, is met before letting the 23-year-old leave.

  • Ibrah set to leave Man U for China or USA

    Ibrah set to leave Man U for China or USA

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be offered a new contract by Manchester United after he was excluded from the club’s list of retained players published by the Premier League.

    The striker will leave Old Trafford when his deal expires at the end of June and will be available for any potential suitors on a free transfer.

    United signed Ibrahimovic on a one-year deal in 2016 but manager Jose Mourinho confirmed last November that the club was keen to take up an option to extend those terms by a further 12 months.

    However, no agreement was reached and Ibrahimovic suffered a serious knee injury in April that cast further doubt over whether he would be kept on at the club.

    The 35-year-old sustained ligament damage in the Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Anderlecht and is not expected to be fit to return to action until January next year.

    United’s reported pursuit of Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata prompted further claims this week that Ibrahimovic’s time at the club would be brought to an end, despite him having scored 28 goals in all competitions to help his side to EFL Cup and Europa League triumphs.

    The former Sweden captain scored the winning goals in the Community Shield clash with Leicester City and the EFL Cup final against Southampton, while he hit 17 in 28 appearances in the Premier League.

    Napoli have been linked with a move for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain star after he admitted in February that he would relish the opportunity to play for the club before he retires.

    Moves to the Chinese Super League or MLS have also been suggested.

  • Ibrahimovic hit with three-match ban

    Ibrahimovic hit with three-match ban

     

     

    Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been slapped with a three-match ban by the Football Association following his controversial elbow on Tyrone Mings.

    Ibrahimovic accepted the violent conduct charge while Mings and Bournemouth have said they will appeal against the decision.

    The former Sweden international lashed out on Mings during a coming together in the Cherries’ penalty area after the Bournemouth defender appeared to stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head.

    Mings claimed after the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford that it was accidental but the FA hinted he would be hit with a severe suspension.

    Ibrahimovic, who was reluctant to discuss the incident on Saturday, will now miss his side’s upcoming FA Cup tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

    He will also sit out his side’s Premier League matches with both Southampton and West Brom.

    The FA released the following statement: ‘Zlatan Ibrahimovic will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of violent conduct and accepted the standard penalty.

    ‘It follows an incident in or around the 44th minute of the game between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (4 March 2017).

    ‘The misconduct was not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on video.’

    Jose Mourinho will however be able to call on Ibrahimovic’s services for United’s two-legged affair with Russian outfit Rostov.

    Ibrahimovic is expected to start the Europa League last 16 first leg tie with Marcus Rashford likely to fill in for the suspended striker in domestic competitions.

    Mings said after being quizzed on the incident: ‘It was a good battle, you know exactly what you are going to get playing against him. There will be things highlighted more than others, but I enjoyed it.’

    Ibrahimovic, on the other hand, said Mings ‘jumped into’ his elbow. 

    ‘In my situation, I jump up, I jump high,’ the Swede said. ‘At the same time I protect myself and unlucky he jumps into me. Many times this occasion happens.’

    Referee Kevin Friend missed the incidents which allowed the FA to punish both players. Andrew Surman ended up seeing red for pushing over Ibrahimovic and picking up his second yellow card of the game. 

  • Ibrahimovic gives wife a rather unusual gift

    Ibrahimovic gives wife a rather unusual gift

     

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wife,Helena Seger was little taken aback by her husband’s

    recent Christmas ‘present’.

    The 46-year-old model, who has been with Zlatan since the mid-2000s, might have

    expected some nice new jewellery or perhaps new clothes from her superstar partner.
    But the Swedish striker isn’t your average husband and, in typical Zlatan fashion, he decided that his wife would appreciate a rather unusual gift instead.
    Zlatan, according to The Sun, gave his wife a framed photograph of, wait for it, himself.

    But not just any photo.

    It’s a photo that shows him leaping above his teammate Jesse Lingard to celebrate his goal against West Brom just before Christmas.

  • Ibrahimovic is PFA Fans’ Player of the Month



    Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has won the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month award for December.
    Ibrahimovic, 35, enjoyed an impressive month for United, scoring five goals in six league appearances for the club, including a brace against West Bromwich Albion.
    The former Sweden international also helped the Red Devils remain unbeaten throughout December, winning five consecutive Premier League games. United are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten run since Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, having gone 13 games since their last defeat.
    Ibrahimovic has silenced critics who thought he would be too old to play in the Premier League following his arrival at United last summer and he currently sits joint-second in the Premier League’s top scorer chart with 13 goals for the season.
    The striker received 24,092 of the 64,000 votes to win PFA’s monthly award, ahead of Liverpool’s Adam Lallana, Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta, Tottenham’s Dele Alli, Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet.

  • Man United waltz past Sunderland, Mikhitaryan nets cracker

    Man United waltz past Sunderland, Mikhitaryan nets cracker

    Manchester United  surged past Sunderland 3-1 in a Boxing Day English Premier League (EPL) clash, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan netting a superb goal.

    Blind combined with Ibrahimovic in the first half to net the opener, charging into the box and finishing low into the bottom corner, Goal reports.

    Ibrahimovic sealed all three points after being teed up by Paul Pogba to score a deserved goal as the clock ticked down.

    Jordan Pickford had been instrumental in keeping the scoreline respectable for David Moyes’ side but was powerless to prevent Mkhitaryan’s sublime back-heel flick in the 86th minute.