Mata: Ibra Is A Legend Of The Game

Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata has branded Zlatan Ibrahimovic  “a legend of the game” after the striker penned a new one-year contract with the Reds last week.

Ibrahimovic scored a sensational 28 goals in 46 appearances across all competitions for the Reds in the 2016/17 season, and his new deal sees him tied to Old Trafford until the summer of 2018.

Mata, who has been a mainstay in United’s side so far this term, was also keen to emphasise the positive impact the Swede will continue to have, on and off the pitch, and in particular on the younger players.

“We are happy that he is with us,” Mata told us. “Obviously for the young players he is a big personality who they can look up to and learn a lot of things. His personality can help us also.

"He is one of those players, with his history of football and winning trophies everywhere, scoring lots of goals and being the biggest star in Sweden’s history - he is a legend of the game.”

Mata’s description of Ibrahimovic is quite apt, given the fact the Swedish hitman has scored over 400 goals across his career and won more than 30 major honours.