Manchester United will be reunited with Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Reds were drawn to face AC Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League.
United will be at home for the first leg, which is scheduled to take place on 11th March and the second leg will be away on 18th March.
It’ll be the first time Ibrahimovic has returned to Old Trafford since leaving in 2018. During his one-and-a-half seasons in Manchester, he played a starring role for Jose Mourinho’s United side, netting 29 goals in 53 games and helping the club secure glory in both the EFL Cup and Europa League in 2017.
He moved to the MLS after leaving United, joining LA Galaxy where he continued his goalscoring form, netting 52 goals in 56 matches. Then 38 years old, it was expected that he’d retire stateside, however, in a surprise move, he came back to Europe last season to link up with AC Milian for the second time in his career.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that this move was motivated by nothing more than sentiment, yet, the now 39-year-old is keeping retirement talk at bay and has established himself as a key member of Milan’s attack.
As a result, he does have the capacity to pose a real threat to United’s backline when the two clash next month.
This season, the former Sweden international has scored a remarkable 16 goals from just 1525 on the pitch minutes. Only four of those efforts have come from the penalty spot and 14 came in Serie A matches.
Those 14 league goals break down to a per 90 average of 1.14 which is an average that betters the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and ranks as the second-highest in the division.
His goal threat is enhanced by the freedom he is given by Milan manager Stefano Pioli. The former Sweden international can basically shoot at will and is averaging a high 4.25 shots per 90. For comparison, at United, he was attempting just 3.56 per 90.
He usually plays as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1, supported by dangerous attackers like Rafael Leao, Hakan Calhanoglu, Ante Rebic and Franck Kessie. And whilst he tends to be in the side to finish moves, rather than create them, he has still proven capable of turning provider for his dangerous attacking teammates when required to do so. This is highlighted by the fact that he has a shot assist per 90 average of 1.12 so far.
Edging close to 40, Ibrahimovic may not be the player he once was, but that doesn’t change the fact that he could prove a real problem for United. It’d be a dream media narrative for the former United man to return to the club and play a big part in their exit from the Europa League at this relatively early stage.
Therefore the onus is on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players to mastermind a plan to make sure they don’t let that happen.
