How Zlatan Ibrahimovic silenced critics and conquered Manchester

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Assuntos: Premier League, Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic

''He's too old to play!'' ''He won't score more than 10 goals.'' ''What a waste of money.'' This is what they said about Zlatan.....

16 – This is the total number of goals Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored for Manchester United so far in all competitions this season, as of Saturday December 17, 2016. Prior to his arrival at Old Trafford over the summer, the bullish forward had already attracted sharp criticism from rival fans.

Whilst many Man Utd fans were excited about the prospects of signing one of the most lethal and widely-travelled forwards in the history of modern football, some rivals were already convinced that he would be a flop. Moreover, the age factor aside, many of his critics believed that his pride and ego would be his other setbacks upon arriving at Man Utd.

A big shoutout to whoever invented the screenshot. This was the situation last summer when the legendary footballer joined Man Utd.

Moment of silence for Zlatan and United haters. #mufc #ZlatanTime pic.twitter.com/Q4aXnnS6Mu
— (Mkhit)Aryan (@theunitedmanc) December 17, 2016

Favourite & Screenshot. #ZlatanFacts pic.twitter.com/Evq9KrFFmT
— Zlatan Facts (@ZIatanFacts) December 17, 2016

But with his trademark cheek-to-cheek smile, Zlatan signed for MUFC on July 1, 2016 Zlatan signs for MUFC The swede, as usual, sought no one’s opinion or listened to no negative energy when he made the decision to risk it all by leaving PSG, a club he had won virtually everything with except the Champions League, and travelled all the way to England to join the fallen giants Manchester United who were still mourning the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson since 2013. So big was his ego that unlike the norm, the 35-year-old announced his own signing at Manchester, rather than the other way round. Zlatan was no guest in Manchester – he was a self-proclaimed god and everyone else were his subjects, including the likes of club legend Eric Cantona.

Zlatan’s main achievements at PSG

4 Ligue 1 titles
2 French Cup titles
3 French League Cup titles
3 French Champions trophies

Zlatan announces his arrival at Man Utd on Twitter

Time to let the world know. My next destination is @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/DAK7iYlrCq
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) June 30, 2016

And when the ex-Barcelona man stepped on the pitch wearing the Man Utd shirt for the first time in a friendly match against Galatasaray in pre-season, he scored a trademark bicycle-kick that sent the club’s fans into a frenzy. His official Man Utd debut was even more exciting – he scored a late winner to help the red devils lift the FA Community Shield after beating Premier League defending champions Leicester City 2-1 at Wembley.

The FA Community Shield was the 31st title in his club career

Nr 31 pic.twitter.com/xmpYE787do
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) August 7, 2016

The ex-Ajax man scores a brilliant scissor-kick goal vs Galatasaray in Sweden Zlatan goal vs Galatasaray Although he has struggled in the recent past to find the back of the net after a promising start that also saw him score against Bournemouth on his Premier League debut, the pony-tailed star seems to have found his goal-scoring boots. He had faced sharp criticism in September and October when he only scored two league goals in 11 appearances for the red devils, a performance that coincided with the club’s slump to the bottom of the league table. So poor was his form around that time that for the first time since his arrival, he was facing criticism from the red side of Manchester.

Victor Anichebe has more premier league goals since the start of October than Zlatan Ibrahimovic
— Gloryhunter (@glory_hunters) November 5, 2016

Zlatan is costing us points every game he plays since October
— Synglle (@Synglle) November 30, 2016

Pls drop #Zlatan to the bench, we will score more goals without him @ManUtd
— Muhammad #MUFC(@sani_atk) November 30, 2016

But no one knows how to absorb pressure than the 'god himself. Fast forward to December, the ex-Milan man has now scored 11 Premier League goals for Man Utd even before Christmas day, yet his teammate Anthony Martial had the same number of goals the whole of last season when he finished as the club’s top scorer in the league. He scored a brace in MUFC's 2-0 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday. The most shocking bit is that, the striker has the most goals for Man Utd at this stage of the season since Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 2002.

Zlatan celebrates his opener vs West Brom on Saturday

Zlatan's proved us wrong. We thought he was finished after that poor spell in October, but he's back and still world class at 35. Mental
— Jamie (@LegendJohnTerry) December 17, 2016

For the first time in a very long time, many Man Utd fans are now optimistic of a top four finish or even a league triumph if league leaders Chelsea drop points along the way. In his own words, Zlatan confessed that something special was being built at Man Utd when he arrived in the summer. So who are we to doubt the god himself has foreseen?

And did you know.....?