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Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s former mentor: I will still respect him even if he doesn’t do this
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has defied his years with his performances for Manchester United this season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 5 things you need to know
The 35-year-old has scored 12 Premier League goals and netted 50 times in 2016.
If he gets two more today, he will overtake Lionel Messi and finish as Europe’s top scorer for this calendar year.
Leo Beenhakker has seen the meteoric rise of Ibrahimovic ever since he signed the Swede for Ajax in his role as technical director.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is just two strikes away from becoming Europe's top scorer for 2016
Lionel Messi has scored 49 times for Barcelona in 2016
Even if he does not score, I will still take a deep bow
But he insists he will still take his hat off to Ibrahimovic even if he doesn’t manage to achieve the goalscoring feat.
“He was 19 years old when I went to see him, had my first talks with him and I realised I was dealing with an absolute winner,” he said.
“I’m pleased to say that I was not wrong all those years ago.
“I take my hat off to him and I take a deep bow for what Zlatan is still doing every week as a Manchester United striker. I have such massive respect for him.
Leo Beenhakker signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was 19 years old
“He keeps on scoring goals and he can break Messi’s record for the amount of goals in 2016. And at the age of 35! In the Premier League!
“But even if he does not score, I will still take a deep bow. I can hardly put in words what this man has accomplished in his career.”
United take on Middlesbrough later today (3pm).
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