Zlatan Ibrahimovic to join Manchester United

Published June 30, 2016
“Time to let the world know my next destination is @Manutd,” Ibrahimovic said on Twitter. —Reuters/File
“Time to let the world know my next destination is @Manutd,” Ibrahimovic said on Twitter. —Reuters/File

LONDON: Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is joining Manchester United and will play for his first Premier League club at the age of 34 under his former manager Jose Mourinho.

“Time to let the world know my next destination is @Manutd,” Ibrahimovic said on Twitter on Thursday. Ibrahimovic had been widely expected to join the English club after informing Paris St Germain that he was leaving after four years in the French capital.

The much-travelled striker will link up with Mourinho, his former manager at Inter Milan, who has just taken over at Old Trafford.

United, who have not paid a fee to sign the out-of-contract Ibrahimovic, will be the eighth club of a career which began with his hometown team Malmo in 1999 and has included spells at Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan.

He has scored 392 goals in 677 games and won a trophy in each season of his career since 2001.

Beyond the silverware, however, it is the box-office appeal of the Swede which has appealed to United, whose supporters have bemoaned the lack of star-quality in their teams since the departure of Alex Ferguson.

United were widely criticised for playing boring football last season under now departed manager Louis van Gaal. Boring is not a word which could be used to describe the flamboyant Ibrahimovic, who scored 50 goals in 51 matches for PSG last season.

United have not yet confirmed the deal but British media reported that he will undergo a medical at Old Trafford on Friday.

Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from international football last week after Sweden's early exit from Euro 2016.

He will link up with his new team mates next month and could feature on the club's tour of Asia, for which they are due to depart on July 19.

Opinion

Editorial

Canal consensus
Updated 29 Apr, 2025

Canal consensus

There is urgent need for such high-level engagement and consultation, especially considering climate-related crises Pakistan faces.
Incursions thwarted
29 Apr, 2025

Incursions thwarted

THE military’s media wing has released details of infiltration attempts by terrorists based in Afghanistan, saying...
Pension reforms
29 Apr, 2025

Pension reforms

The federal government has finally notified another pension reform that requires retired public servants rehired by...
At heat’s mercy
Updated 28 Apr, 2025

At heat’s mercy

The current heatwave is a dire warning of what lies ahead if Pakistan fails to confront the realities of climate change.
Culture war
28 Apr, 2025

Culture war

THE heightened tensions between India and Pakistan have sealed the fate of Abir Gulaal. Slated for a May release and...
Haj mismanagement
28 Apr, 2025

Haj mismanagement

THE relevant authorities in Pakistan are often blamed for negligence and poor management when it comes to Haj...