Zlatan Ibrahimovic |United Player | See the thread in the United Forum

[Man-United]

This will be a fantastic signing. Perfect with his age too that he stays here for one, maybe two years to keep Rashford fit and not put pressure on him, and then when Zlatan leaves, Rashford takes over. Brilliant.

 

[KM]

Every single team in the world, bar maybe Barcelona, would benefit from signing Ibra.

This and fecking this.

 

[harms]

Thank god Ibra is still one to score, not to slip.

Have a little respect for the true legends of the game! They have like 13 league titles combined

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

Every single team in the world, bar maybe Barcelona, would benefit from signing Ibra.

Nice username.

 

[Man-United]

Every single team in the world, bar maybe Barcelona, would benefit from signing Ibra.

Without a doubt. He's a world class player and I'm almost in shock that he looks likely to join us. José and Zlatan

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Some people are forgetting A) how strong he is and hence how beneficial it will be having a striker who can hold the ball up well and HEAD the ball and B) how good he is technically.

 

[kps88]

Hope Sweden get knocked out early so he can have a nice rest before the start of the season.

 

[2 man midfield]

Some people are forgetting A) how strong he is and hence how beneficial it will be having a striker who can hold the ball up well and HEAD the ball and B) how good he is technically.

I cannot imagine anyone wanting to argue against this being anything but a good thing for us. We lack goals, so sign the third top scorer in Europe last season, on a one year, no strings deal. Any team except Barca would be improved by him.

 

[Lawman]

Absolutely. We need to compliment signing Ibra (if we do) with the right signings in attack elsewhere. Two good players with pace + Ibra and we're sorted.

Yep I'd like to see Mane come in plus another.

Zlatan
Martial Mane Mahrez

Would cause lots of problems and score loads of goals.

 

[Man-United]

I cannot imagine anyone wanting to argue against this being anything but a good thing for us. We lack goals, so sign the third top scorer in Europe last season, on a one year, no strings deal. Any team would love to have him, apart from Barcelona.

And those against it bring up his age. I don't see the problem. He stays here for one or two years, then Rasford takes over and can have good rest as well during the season with Zlatan here without putting all pressure on Rashford.

 

[togg]

Beast of a man, beast of a player - a natural perfect combination as a player for Manchester United

 

[2 man midfield]

And those against it bring up his age. I don't see the problem. He stays here for one or two years, then Rasford takes over and can have good rest as well during the season with Zlatan here without putting all pressure on Rashford.

The only way his age would be a problem is if we signed him on a long term contract, but a one year deal is basically a loan. He's a stopgap signing, and what a signing. He outscored Messi last season for god sake, i don't see why anyone would object.

 

[Man-United]

The only way his age would be a problem is if we signed him on a long term contract, but a one year deal is basically a loan. He's a stopgap signing, and what a signing. He outscored Messi last season for god sake, i don't see why anyone would object.

True. If we had signed Aubameyang or Lewandowski for £40M+ then we would talk about Rashford having problem getting a chance in the team for the coming years. With signing Zlatan for max two years, it's also a statement to Rashfors that he's the future, and will get plenty of game time in 16/17, as this would be the only forward we sign this summer surely.

 

[All 3 United]

Changed my vote to yes. A one year deal makes perfect sense. Plus the muppet in me just took over!!

 

[Escobar]

True. If we had signed Aubameyang or Lewandowski for £40M+ then we would talk about Rashford having problem getting a chance in the team for the coming years. With signing Zlatan for max two years, it's also a statement to Rashfors that he's the future, and will get plenty of game time in 16/17, as this would be the only forward we sign this summer surely.

I agree. A lot would prefer that we sign a top class striker but on the other hand fear that Jose would neglect our young players. With Ibra, we have (still) a class striker who most likely will have a great impact in the dressing room. And it gives our young strikers the time to develop and learn to hopefully be ready once he leaves

 

[SirAF]

Changed my vote to yes. A one year deal makes perfect sense. Plus the muppet in me just took over!!

Oh yes.. that's it.. let Miss Piggy ride you home!

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

What sort of money are we looking at ? Seen rival fans claiming £500 k per wk + a crazy signing on fee, surely it'll be nothing like that, £300 k per wk + a couple of million for his agent is more likely closer to the mark, and if so it makes good sense.

 

[2 man midfield]

True. If we had signed Aubameyang or Lewandowski for £40M+ then we would talk about Rashford having problem getting a chance in the team for the coming years. With signing Zlatan for max two years, it's also a statement to Rashfors that he's the future, and will get plenty of game time in 16/17, as this would be the only forward we sign this summer surely.

Yep. It's a huge vote of confidence in Rashford, and reward for his exploits last season. I hope we also see Martial's future through the middle, so there really isn't the need for another centre forward in his prime. Just someone to play there until they develop further. As someone to fill that role, as well as being a presence, a dressing room influence, who loves the manager and will have a hunger to win the league, he ticks every single box. Plus he's on a free. It's the perfect signing.

 

[redwar]

So, this officially makes us a boring team?

We 'll see. Depends on how many hoofballs will be directed to the always on the move Ibra.

Who are we kidding, right?

 

[Nicklas]

Hope Sweden get knocked out early so he can have a nice rest before the start of the season.

And I now hope that they want to take him to the Olympics. But it's after all the clubs decision to take so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[duffer]

He's got a big nose and is about 40.

 

[Marcelinho87]

Blue shirt with zlatan on the back for me.

Can't wait for next season already.

 

[BBRBB]

So, this officially makes us a boring team?

We 'll see. Depends on how many hoofballs will be directed to the always on the move Ibra.

Who are we kidding, right?

What?

 

[wwwwww]

-----------De Gea--------

Varela-Smalling-X--Shaw

------------TFM----------

------Herrera---Mata----

-Rashford-Zlatan-Martial

Sign 1 world class CB and 1 CM we're good. Blind, Carrick, Rooney can be squad players.

-----------De Gea--------

Varela-Smalling-X--Shaw

------------possibly----------

------NO---NO----

-Rashford-Zlatan-Martial

 

[Kill 'em all]

What sort of money are we looking at ? Seen rival fans claiming £500 k per wk + a crazy signing on fee, surely it'll be nothing like that, £300 k per wk + a couple of million for his agent is more likely closer to the mark, and if so it makes good sense.

The figures going around early on were 250k a week with a Chinese club offering him 11m more per year.

-----------De Gea--------

Varela-Smalling-X--Shaw

------------TFM----------

------Herrera---Mata----

-Rashford-Zlatan-Martial

Sign 1 world class CB and 1 CM we're good. Blind, Carrick, Rooney can be squad players.

That won't work, we need a proper right winger. The priority here is to win trophies and not to play makeshift formations to suit youngsters.

 

[bubbles_]

His agent will get quite a bit of dough. Maybe a bribe to try and sway Pogba here as well...

 

[devilish]

Bastian, Carrick, Zlatan, Rooney and Rio will probably return we'll have the best 2010 team in the world

 

[2 man midfield]

--------------De Gea------------
Valencia--Smalling-NEW--Shaw
---------NEW--Schneiderlin----
NEW---------NEW--------Martial
------------Ibrahimovich---------

What i'd like to see. Give the captaincy to someone else and phase Rooney out as backup for midfield and number 10. I'd prefer to see Darmian return to the level of early last season too, but Valencia seems a better fit. Had a good end to the season as well.

 

[C'est Moi Cantona]

So will it be a case of Ibra or Rashford in games, or will Rashford just play another position when the main striker position is taken with Ibra.

Interesting to see if Martial gets much of a chance up top as well, especially if Depay stays, and also what will happen with Wilson.

 

[Ecstatic]

Looking at that list of his games:

1. Zlatan had 4G + 2A in 8 games against the best non-French teams he played in Chelsea, Shakhtar, Real Madrid and Man City.

2. Against the 4 other French teams who seem to have had solid seasons (Lyon were a solid +24, Nice were +17 and while Lille were 4th in GD, they only conceded 27 goals, which implies solidity defensively, Monaco were only +7 but finished 3rd and came off a fine season), Zlatan posted 7G + 2A in 8 games.

So, if we assume the foreign teams in point 1 are roughly equivalent to the average of the top 8 in England (City are there, Madrid fair bit better, Chelsea (though in the CL not as awful) last year fair bit worse, Shaktar probably around the level of 5th-6th) and that the 4 domestic sides I included are roughly equivalent to average bottom half sides (with Ligue 1 having such a down year), you'd basically have a decent 14 games cross-section resembling the Prem. Probably a shade tougher but he had Verratti and Di Maria there to create so it's not unfair to be a bit ungenerous.

Zlatan's "Top Level Season" numbers would be 11G + 4A in 16 games. Double the numbers since 32 games would be about a normal healthy season for a striker with a couple of EL and Cup rest, a suspension and then 2-3 games injured and we have a season of 22G + 8A.

Not proper dominant, but basically just below the goalscoring feats of Kane (25) and Vardy (24) and Aguero's 22 in far less game time, but with more assists than Vardy (6) and far more than Kane (1) or Aguero (2). Or looking at other target 9s, Giroud had 16G + 6A and Lukaku had 18G + 6A.

That seems totally plausible to me, that at 34 Zlatan would be Giroud with 30% more goals or 90% of a Kane/Vardy goalscoring but far more creative and likely to provide an assist. On the whole, we'd be talking about a striker at but not above the level of the top 5 of Kane, Aguero and whoever jumps up next year, likely 2 from a healthy Sturridge, bouncing back Diego Costa or an improving (as a young player or with better teammates) Lukaku.

Having only seen about 5 PSG games last year, mostly CL, I'd say this sounds right. Zlatan's skills are incredible but he has definitely slowed down and PSG played a fairly languid, conservative style in which possession was largely used to defend until a truly killer ball was available or a fullback/winger could get in behind. If you watch the video of Zlatan's goals, he scored a lot of tap ins, which PSG created due to the brilliance of Di Maria (and Verrati) and physicality/penetration of Matuidi, Cavani and at times, Lucas and Aurier.

TLDR: In a normal 30-35 Prem game season, assuming a slight decline from age 34 to 35, coming off a Euros, I would put Zlatan's expected numbers for us at 20G and 6A, which would make him likely the 2nd-4th most productive striker in the league.

Excellent post

 

[Barca84]

He's got a big nose and is worth about 40 goals next season.

Fixed that for you.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I cannot imagine anyone wanting to argue against this being anything but a good thing for us. We lack goals, so sign the third top scorer in Europe last season, on a one year, no strings deal. Any team except Barca would be improved by him.

And even if he doesn't perform to his usual level, he will still give us more than enough to be well worth it. He doesn't actually have to score 30 league goals to be a great signing.

 

[Ecstatic]

A guy ready for the derby

April 2016

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Image rights will be a sticking point again here in negotiations, what with him being the face of Volvo.

 

[Judas]

So will it be a case of Ibra or Rashford in games, or will Rashford just play another position when the main striker position is taken with Ibra.

Interesting to see if Martial gets much of a chance up top as well, especially if Depay stays, and also what will happen with Wilson.

Either Wilson will go out on loan again or be sold I think.

 

[duffer]

Fixed that for you.

He'll not be in the french league next season! 20 league goals tops.

 

[Dobbs]

It really doesn't in the grand scheme of things.

If we beat the other 15 teams home and away we win the league. SAF teams won the league a few times whilst being bottom of the 'games against the top 4' league which by itself means dick.

We had a fantastic record against the top teams last season and finished 5th with a whimper.

Suarez is often credited with leading Liverpool to within a cnut hair of a league championship and his record against the top teams was shite.

We've also lost leagues because we didn't do well against the other big clubs.

Big players are supposed to perform in big games. They don't get paid fortunes to batter Bournemouth.

 

[2 man midfield]

Image rights will be a sticking point again here in negotiations, what with him being the face of Volvo.

To be honest, i think that Mourinho thing was a load of rubbish anyway. Pretty much every player has endorsements which will conflict somewhere along the line, but for some reason we only heard about it the other day. At a time when the board needed a reason for dragging out negotiations to make it look like they hadn't had the whole thing done behind Van Gaal's back. It'll be fine.

 

[Pexbo]

He's got a big nose and is about 40.

You were on the button with Falcao when he signed for us so I'll listen to your opinion on Ibrahimovic...

Honest thoughts?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

To be honest, i think that Mourinho thing was a load of rubbish anyway. Pretty much every player has endorsements which will conflict somewhere along the line, but for some reason we only heard about it the other day. At a time when the board needed a reason for dragging out negotiations to make it look like they hadn't had the whole thing done behind Van Gaal's back. It'll be fine.

Oh it'll be fine for sure but it's definitely one of the more tricky conflicts, Zlatan has a huge deal with Volvo and our main sponsor is Chevrolet. It'll take some ironing out I reckon.