STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s all-time report goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic is making ready to pass the torch to a brand new generation of younger gamers such as Anthony Elanga as his aspect put together for his or her World Cup playoff semi-final towards the Czech Republic on Thursday.
The 40-year-old striker recalled enjoying with the Manchester United winger’s father Joseph for Malmo FF over 20 years in the past and he’s now sharing a dressing room along with his son.
“First time I met him, we had been within the restaurant within the (United) coaching floor and he got here up to me and he mentioned, ‘you recognize my father’ and I used to be like, assist me now as a result of I do not know who I’m speaking to,” Ibrahimovic mentioned.
“‘You performed with my father Elanga’, after which all the things clicked and I mentioned ‘okay’, and it made me blissful as a result of I wasn’t the one Swedish one in Manchester, we had one other Swedish participant.”
Ibrahimovic, who scored 17 targets in 33 Premier League video games throughout an injury-hit spell at United from 2016 to 2018, even allowed Elanga, 19, to take centre stage on the rostrum between himself and Sweden’s staff press officer.
“We’re all blissful and we’re having fun with the journey he is on, he simply began and he is on the way in which up so it is good. You may have one thing to watch for an additional 20 years,” Ibra added with a smile.
For Elanga, who has caught the attention along with his performances for United this season, and different younger attacking Swedes like Dejan Kulusevski and Alexander Isak, Ibrahimovic has been an inspiration.
“You can see for the previous 20 years what he is completed for the nationwide staff, and clearly on the membership soccer degree, you’ll be able to see the way in which he is scoring his targets. Even once I was younger I used to search for to him, being from Sweden,” Elanga mentioned.
“When I discovered that he signed for United, I could not wait to converse to him, ask him in regards to the reminiscences he had with my dad. It means quite a bit, you recognize, to have the opportunity to see him day-in, day-out right here, prepare with him – it is an honour.”
Sweden tackle the Czech Republic of their World Cup playoff semi on the Friends Arena in Stockholm, a sport Ibrahimovic will miss due to suspension.
The winners will face Poland subsequent week for a spot within the World Cup finals in Qatar which begin in November.
(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Editing by Ken Ferris)
