He’s only been at Old Trafford five minutes, yet Zlatan Ibrahimovic has his feet well and truly under the table.
Just a week after reportedly putting Anthony Martial’s nose out of joint by nabbing his number nine jersey, the Swede has apparently been made Manchester United’s vice-captain.
According to The Sun, Jose Mourinho – who has been busily spending the last couple of weeks of preseason making Bastian Schweinsteiger’s life a living hell – has ordered that the 34-year-old is given the skipper’s armband when Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick aren’t on the pitch.
Ibrahimovic, who joined United on a free after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired at the back end of last season, had captained Sweden for much of his international career.
The report features quotes from an unnamed insider at Old Trafford, who claims that Zlatan has already made his presence felt at his new club.
“Some of the other lads, especially the young ones, are in awe of Zlatan,” they are quoted as saying.
“He brings a presence to the place and people look up to him after everything that he has achieved through his career.
“He has experience at the highest level and is seen as an obvious captain when the other lads aren’t on the pitch.”
If the words of The Sun’s trusty insider are anything to go by, the decision to instantly promote him to the position of vice-captain seems like a smart one.
