Zlatan says United spell made him feel ‘like Benjamin Button’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed he was told by “everyone” not to risk his reputation by playing in England but how a successful spell at Manchester United made him feel young again -- “like Benjamin Button”. The 37-year-old Swedish forward made a high-profile switch to Old Trafford in July 2016 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, initially on a one-season contract. Ibrahimovic made a major impact at Old Trafford, scoring twice to help Jose Mourinho’s side win the 2017 League Cup final against Southampton before suffering a serious knee injury during the Europa League quarter-final with Anderlecht.

The veteran frontman recovered and signed a contract extension but eventually left United to join Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy in March 2018. In an interview with BBC 5 Live, the much-travelled Ibrahimovic recalled the advice he had received when he was contemplating life in the Premier League. “When I went to England I was talking to different players that I knew well and trusted that would give me an honest opinion.

From all of them everyone said ‘do not do it’ -- they said it would not be good for my career because you put your whole career on one season,” he said. “If you do not do a good season, people will say the rest of the things you did before were useless because you didn’t make it in England but that triggered me and that’s the challenge I wanted.” Ibrahimovic , who also played for Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and both Milangiants , added: “I went against everyone and said that’s what I wanted to do. They thought I was too old... and I made the Premier League look old.