Done Deal: Zlatan Ibrahimovic joins Manchester United

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 34, has ended the worst kept secret in football, by announcing his arrival at Old Trafford. The Swedish striker’s contractual obligations from former club, Paris St. Germain, have all been paid up and the ego is set to land in Manchester.

Opinions are divided over whether he will be a costly flop like Radamel Falcao, 30, or emulate Eric Cantona and become a saviour. He fits into the Manchester United profile, following closely in the paths forged by Duncan Edwards, George Best and Cantona: the game’s great entertainers on the biggest English stage.

Whatever the case, he will most likely be as entertaining in the press room as on the pitch. Ibrahimovic almost signed for Arsenal in 2000 but famously turned down the offer of a trial as an 18 year-old, believing, “Zlatan doesn’t do auditions”.

United will be hoping the Swede brings his lucky boots with him. The only season he hasn’t won the league title with his club was 2011-12 when AC Milan finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A when the Turin-based club were first Italian side to go a league campaign undefeated.

He is, without question, one of the most successful club players, having won 11 league titles (plus two which were scrubbed out of Juventus’ record due to the Calciopoli Scandal in 2004/05 and 2005/06), in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France. The glaring omission is the Champions League, which he has never won.

Winning the Premier League this season however, would be the crowning glory. At other clubs, he has played for one of the favourites to win the title. United are in a rebuilding phase and whilst likely to finish in the top four, were some way off winning the Premier League last season.

 

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