MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 00:15:29| >> :120:11223:11223:

Chris Smalling hoping for Zlatan Ibrahimovic stay

Smalling hoping for Ibrahimovic stay
© SilverHub
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling urges the club to keep hold of Zlatan Ibrahimovic for as long as possible.

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has urged the club to keep hold of Zlatan Ibrahimovic for as long as possible.

The 35-year-old moved to Old Trafford on a free transfer last summer but only signed a one-year contract and, while he has the option of a second season, he has also been linked with a move to Napoli at the end of the current campaign.

Manager Jose Mourinho has repeatedly stressed his confidence that the Swede will remain for a second year, though, and Smalling does not believe that age is a factor for Ibrahimovic.

"He just wants to score goals; he's a real focal point for the attack. Even when we have not been playing well he has managed to score and when you can rely on someone like that it's brilliant," he told reporters.

"You see how he has performed this season and all the goals he has scored, if we can keep a player like that for as long as we can all the players would be very happy. I don't think age is a factor at the moment. He has played as many games as anyone in the squad and contributed a lot.

"I know how hard he is to play against because sometimes I come up against him in training. We have a nice battle, but I am glad it is only training. I am lucky I don't have to play against him in a game."

Ibrahimovic has scored 23 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions this season, including his first hat-trick in Thursday's Europa League win over Saint-Etienne.

ID:292096: cacheID:292096:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2434:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford in action during his side's FA Cup third round clash with Reading at Old Trafford on January 7, 2017
Read Next:
Brown: 'Rashford has to keep fighting'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!