Zlatan Ibrahimovic associates red with Manchester United and teammates loved him but AC Milan star wishes ‘ate Premier League for breakfast’ rather than ‘took it for lunch’

Manchester United welcome one of their iconic players in recent years back to Old Trafford after being drawn against AC Milan in the Europa League.

It’s clearly the pick of the last-16 ties with both Man United and Milan second in their respective domestic leagues.

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They’ll also have the small matter of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to deal with

However, the Red Devils will know all about the test that awaits them with Zlatan Ibrahimovic very likely to be leading the line for the Italian side.

Ibrahimovic was at Old Trafford for a whirlwind two years (2016-18). His first season saw him the club win the Europa League and League Cup, with the Swedish striker scoring twice in 3-2 victory over Southampton in the final.

He boasts excellent stats, scoring 29 goals and providing ten assists in 53 appearances for them but revealed in classic Zlatan style the one regret he has about his time at Man United, having joined them not long before his 35th birthday.

“I feel sorry for the fans – if they’d seen me younger, they’d have seen a different lion,” he told the club’s media.

Ibrahimovic helped Man United win two trophies in 2016/17, which is the last time they lifted silverware

“For the Premier League, it would have been dangerous, as I would have eaten them for breakfast. Instead, I took them for lunch. But I came: they wanted me, I gave them me and I took over. Been there and done that.”

His stay may have been short and sweet but Ibrahimovic’s love for the club will never end.

“I would need more time to explain my feelings but let’s start with a big thanks to everybody – what they did was amazing and I hope they are as happy as I am,” he continued.

“I gave as much as I could for as long as I could; when I got injured, I got support in a different way. They always stood behind me and my team-mates.

“They are special: everywhere I see red, I think about United. It will remain in history and my career; when I look back at my time with United, I will do it with a smile. I wish them all the best in the future.”

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Ibrahimovic should be able to put his love for Man United to one side when he faces them

‘Ibra’ had a lasting impact on his Man United teammates too. He has a great friendship with Paul Pogba, while Marcus Rashford says Ibrahimovic has been key to his development.

“His mentality was beyond anything I’d ever played with before,” Rashford said to the United app via The Guardian.

“He didn’t care what anyone would say or what anyone was saying about him. In terms of mentality, he was key to my development.”

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