Manchester United; Zlatan excited by Rooney

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has announced he is confident of Wayne Rooney becoming his “perfect partner” up front for Manchester United this season

Both Rooney and Ibrahimovic, who turn 31 and 35 respectively in October, started in Saturdays 5-2 friendly win over Galatasaray and both found themselves on the score sheet in their first audition for starting roles under Manchester United new boss Jose Mourinho.

Speaking to manutd.com and as quoted by the Daily Mirror Zlatan said:

“I think every big player can work with other big players. That’s not a problem. We are 11 players on the pitch. It’s up to the coach what he wants but, with him, I see no problems only success.” http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2016/Aug/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-praises-Wayne-Rooney-ahead-of-testimonial.aspx

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“I said many years ago the perfect partner for a striker is Wayne Rooney. He works not only for himself but for the striker and the whole team. I am absolutely happy to be one of the guys beside him.

I think he’s had a fantastic career. He’s been here a long time; it’s not easy to be in the top for so many years. Top players are coming and going but he’s still staying.”

Zlatan is set to make his first start at Old Trafford for Wayne Rooney’s testimonial tonight against Everton to celebrate the 12 years he has spent at the Theatre of Dreams since leaving his boyhood club at the age of 18.

Rooney needs just 5 goals to pass Sir Bobby Robson as Manchester United’s all time leading goalscorer currently sitting on 245 goals from 520 appearances.

Zlatan seemed to be his usual confident self during the interview which aired on MUTV, no doubt bolstered by his fourth minute spectacular scissor kick goal on Saturday.

I, for one, will be very interested to see if he can produce such brilliance in the premier league. Say on a rainy Saturday evening away at Hull City.

If Jose Mourinho does opt to go with a Zlatan Rooney partnership this year, which would mean Manchester United’s frontline would have a combined age of 66 years come Christmas. The oldest partnership since Henrik Larsson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2007, with a combined age of 68.

The main difference between the two partnerships of course being at that time Manchester United were riding high under Sir Alex Ferguson at that time as opposed to this year, where they are desperate to prove they are still relevant and justify some extremely high spending by their 3^rd manager in as many years.