Football News

Ibrahimovic: I could still cut it at Premier League level

By Steve Jennings

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rejoined AC Milan

Published: 17:18, 28 August 2019

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes he still has the ability to play in the Premier League, joking that he would return to Manchester United if the club wanted him back.

The LA Galaxy striker spent a year-and-a-half at Old Trafford, scoring 29 goals and winning two major trophies before departing for America.

How did Zlatan get on at Man Utd? Five things you need to know…

  • Ibrahimovic joined United on a one-year contract in 2016 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
  • He scored 28 goals in his first season at the club, winning the Carabao Cup and the Europa League.
  • The Swede agreed to a one-year extension to his deal in August 2017.
  • But his second season didn’t go to plan as he scored just once in seven appearances.
  • In March 2018 his contract was mutually terminated so that he could join LA Galaxy.

Since joining LA Galaxy last year, Ibrahimovic has been a huge hit in MLS, finding the net 44 times in 49 appearances and winning his club’s Player of the Year award in 2018.

The 37-year-old thinks he is still good enough to play for a Premier League club, but he has insisted his days in Europe are almost definitely behind him.

“I could play easy in the Premier League, so if United need me, I’m here,” Ibrahimovic told Sky Sports. “But Galaxy has me, so I’m sorry.

“Nah, I did my job in Europe. I enjoyed it, I have 33 trophies that I brought with me here and hopefully I can get something here. And then we will see where that adventure finishes.”

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Man Utd were “unlucky” against Crystal Palace – Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic went on to admit he still watches United when he gets the chance, suggesting his former club were unlucky to lose 2-1 against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Jordan Ayew, Patrick van Aanholt and Daniel James scored the goals as Palace earned a first ever Premier League win over United, with Marcus Rashford missing a second-half penalty.

He said: “I look, I look, I look. I saw the last game and I think they were unlucky. If they score the penalty, it’s a different game but a game in England is not finished until it’s finished.

“Anything can happen, especially in the last minutes where everything is in the heat of the moment.”

Manchester United will look to bounce back from their defeat to Palace when they travel to Southampton this weekend. But they will first look to Monaco to find out their Europa League group stage opponents in Friday’s draw.