Stint with United helped defiant Zlatan ‘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 “like Benjamin Button” — a fictional character who ages in reverse.
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 sustaining a serious knee injury during the Europa League quarterfinal with Anderlecht.
The veteran forward recovered and signed a contract extension but eventually left United to join Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy in March.
In an interview with BBC 5 Live, the much-traveled Ibrahimovic recalled the advice he 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. All of them said ‘do not do it’ — they said it would not be good for my career because I’d be risking my whole career on one season,” he said.
“If you do not have 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 only triggered me and that’s the challenge I wanted.”
Ibrahimovic, who also played for Ajax, Juventus, Barcelona and Milan, added: “I went against everyone and said that’s what I wanted. They said I was too old, but I made the Premier League look old.
“It took me three months to convince everyone who I was. That was the challenge and I never turn down a challenge.”
Ibrahimovic said he had felt “unbreakable... like Superman” before his knee injury.
“The first year at United we had a fantastic year,” he added. “They made me feel like Benjamin Button. I was getting younger and younger, then unfortunately I got my injury.”