ZLATAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OR I FLY AWAY
MANCHESTER UNITED must win the Europa League to realistically hang on to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Friends of the Swedish striker (left), 35, believe he is likely to walk away from Old Trafford this summer if the club fail to gain Champions League football.
Ibrahimovic also wants to see clear evidence of United building a title-winning team
for next season. Europa League glory would offer United a guaranteed passage into next season’s Champions League, as would a top-four finish in the Premier League.
But Zlatan’s closest friends acknowledge their mate is not used to being part of a team fighting to finish fourth.
He is a champion and expects a tilt at the title. Over the past 15 years Ibrahimovic has finished with the champions 13 times. He is also the only player to win 13 titles in four different leagues – the Eredivisie, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1.
Ibrahimovic will play in tonight’s quarter-final first leg against Anderlecht. But the Swede, who has plundered 28 goals in his debut season, has stalled on committing for a second season.
United have targeted Atletico Madrid playmaker Antoine Griezmann, Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko and Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic as their prime summer transfer targets.
But they could make a move for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku if Ibrahimovic goes. He has lucrative offers from Major League Soccer in the US and the Chinese Super League.
Skipper Wayne Rooney looks certain to leave this summer.