Let’s face it, although the enigmatic Sweden international and all-round legend of the modern game is no longer quite the formidable force he once was just a handful of short seasons ago, Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains one of the most sought after names in world football.
The former Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona front-man looks increasingly certain to part ways with his current employers, Paris Saint-Germain, and as Manchester United represent just one of several English clubs reportedly looking to secure the striker’s services ahead of the new domestic campaign, perhaps the Premier League will indeed provide the highly coveted 34-year-old with one last high profile move.
So then, in light of Ibrahimovic’s apparent availability at the end of the current season: should Manchester United simply do everything within their power to complete this particularly bold transfer deal? Or would such an admittedly ambitious venture prove somewhat unproductive for the Red Devils?
Well, even though ‘Ibra’ is clearly reaching the latter stages of his footballing career, this is one player very few sides across the whole of world football would ever see fit to turn down.
When it comes to dominating his opponents aerially, being a leader both on and off the pitch and scoring a range of ridiculously gorgeous goals, Ibrahimovic is more than worthy of his current reputation.
Louis van Gaal’s Red Devils have certainly struggled from an attacking point of view this season, for although both Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have, admittedly, impressed throughout certain portions of the current campaign, neither player is capable of helping Man United re-establish their dominance among the English top-flight as early as next season.
Yet whilst most right-minded football fans seemingly wouldn’t turn down the chance to watch such a marquee acquisition, would Ibrahimovic really represent a positive summer signing for Manchester United from a long-term perspective?
The answer could well be… no. Although the widely admired Swede would probably boost shirt sales with relative ease and efficiency straight off the bat, the Red Devils need to build their entire team around an up and coming centre-forward ready to prove himself, as opposed to a fading star of yesteryear who could only really offer little more than a brief impact.
The Theatre of Dreams hierarchy should only look to sign an out-and-out luxury such as Ibrahimovic, once an adequate long-term alternative is finally put in place at the club. Everton’s Romelu Lukaku has also been heavily linked with a possible move to Man United this summer, and given the Belgian’s undoubted potential, perhaps the Manchester heavyweights must really consider their options before making any regrettably knee-jerk decisions.
So then, whilst the heart would certainly love to witness Zlatan Ibrahimovic operating among the Premier League with Manchester United next season, matters of the head sometimes arrive with greater authority.
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