The former Manchester United midfielder has claimed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be a good fit at Old Trafford and could have a similar effect as Eric Cantona did at the club under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been linked to a move to Manchester United ever since his departure from PSG was announced. The rumours picked up pace when Jose Mourinho was appointed as the successor to Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. The friendship that Mourinho and Zlatan share is well documented and it is believed that the 34-year-old Swede would love to play in the Premier League under the management of the Portuguese.
Red Devils legend Roy Keane believes that Zlatan can become a Cantona-like figure in the Manchester United squad lacking in leadership and character. As Republic of Ireland prepare to face Sweden at Euro 2016, questions about the enigmatic Swedish striker and his future club were inevitable, and Keane didn’t shy away from answering them.
The former United midfielder is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: “Of course he is a good fit for United, he’s a good player,” said Keane. ‘They’re big characters, clearly, whatever you say about Cantona, he was a popular lad, and I get the impression Zlatan is the same.
“Whatever about his playing career, you hear from his team-mates and he seems to be a bit of a character, and you can see that in the way he plays.”
Would Zlatan’s eccentric style be a boost or a hindrance to Manchester United?
Despite being a great leader and motivator, Eric Cantona was never far from a controversy. The Frenchman gained notoriety for his infamous ‘kung-fu kick’ on a Crystal Palace fan in the stands which led him to be banned for a year. Often with such characters, a team carries a risk of falling apart on days when they don’t have a favourable result and the frustration often gets the best out of Cantona-like players.
However, if there is a man manager capable of handling and using players like Zlatan to the fullest, it is Mourinho. His past experience with Zlatan at Inter will indeed be a big help as he looks to create a strong Manchester United squad with the immediate aim of winning silverware and getting back into the top 4 positions in the league.
