A month or so ago one of the BBC pundits made a suggestion that Manchester United needed to sign a real character, to bring fresh inspiration to the team, for the second half of the season. Robbie savage was quoted in The Mirror as saying:
Just as Sir Alex Ferguson stunned his rivals by landing Cantona from Leeds for a pittance 20 years ago, Moyes needs a marquee signing as a statement of intent.
How about Zlatan Ibrahimovic?
He is a Cantona-type player who would give the Reds a real lift – and with Sweden missing out on the World Cup, he will not be worn out after a long summer.
Ibrahimovic would be a focal point who would radiate charisma and his presence would attract other players to Old Trafford.
At the time we thought it was an absolutely absurd idea. To buy a player at huge cost, for a position where Manchester United are strongest, when other areas of the team need urgent attention. In fact we still think that it is a pretty crazy idea but there are a few allusions in the papers to David Moyes going to Paris to scout the brilliant 32 year old.
Indeed, Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel recently stated:
You’ve got to ask Zlatan why he hasn’t played in England yet, but I’d love to see him at Manchester United,’ Schmeichel told Swedish paper Expressen.
‘I don’t know who he supports, but he’s a born Manchester United player, he would be absolutely brilliant.
‘I think our supporters would love him, if he ever made that move, he wouldn’t move again. For Zlatan to play the way we love him to play, he has to be Zlatan.
We will continue to pop poo this idea however – it’s surely a story without legs. If David Moyes did bring in Zlatan then we would know for sure that he isn’t the man for the job as long term Manchester United manager. Zlatan would represent a hugely expensive gamble who could further disrupt the dressing room and offer no solution to the main problem at Manchester United which is a dearth of quality across the entire midfield.
We shall put this one to bed then. At least until the last day of the window when the wackiest transfer stories are carted out!
But, we certainly aren’t doubting the quality of the brilliant Zlatan. So let’s give him due respect with a look at his mesmerising skills.
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