Rumour Has It: Man United want Ibrahimovic return

Milan will be forever grateful to Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he had nothing to prove and everything to lose by returning to the struggling Serie A giants, according to chief football officer Zvonimir Boban.

Ibrahimovic re-joined Milan last month after leaving the Rossoneri in 2012, and the 38-year-old striker has made an immediate impact at San Siro.

Since arriving on a free transfer from MLS outfit LA Galaxy, Ibrahimovic has lifted the spirit in the dressing room and scored twice in five appearances.

Milan have not lost since Ibrahimovic s comeback – a run of seven matches – and Boban praised the former Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain star.

Derby week mode 
C mon, boys!

— AC Milan (@acmilan)

Ibra is a very charismatic pl…

Edin Dzeko credited his Roma team-mates for a patient performance as they dumped Shakhtar Donetsk out of the Champions League.

A 1-0 win, after a 2-1 defeat in Kharkiv, took Roma through on away goals as Dzeko scored seven minutes into the second half with the game s first chance of note.

And although the Serie A side were outplayed for long periods at Stadio Olimpico, the Bosnian praised the way his side did not panic before eventually finding the breakthrough.

It was a great night for me, for Roma and the whole club, Dzeko told UEFA.com. We deserved this.

We were patient. We knew that one goal could see us reach the quarter-finals. We scored that goal and then we did everything all together.

I did [think a second effort was in] but the ball s…

Manchester United should be wary of seasoned knockout campaigners Sevilla when the sides clash in the Europa League semi-final. 

That is the warning from former United star Robin van Persie, who cited the Spanish club s fine record in the competition as a reason for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side to be on high alert in Cologne. 

Sevilla have won the Europa League five times, including twice when it was the UEFA Cup, and claimed the honour three times in a row from 2014 to 2016. 

Even before that emergence as the dominant force in Europe s secondary knockout tournament, Sevilla had a profile that put them firmly on Dutchman Van Persie s radar before he ultimately swapped Feyenoord for Arsenal in 2004. 

And he knows Julen Lopetegui s men, unbeaten in…

Edinson Cavani is Paris Saint-Germain s record goalscorer and now looks set to pull on a Manchester United shirt in the Premier League.

The Uruguayan spent seven years at the Parc des Princes, scoring 200 goals before being released at the end of the 2019-20 season.

By the time of his exit, Cavani had become a bit-part player for PSG, with data suggesting he had become less of a goal threat.

Here is a look at how the man known as El Matador may have lost some of his killer instinct as United reportedly look to add him to their stable of strikers.

Cavani no longer a big-chance predator?

In seven starts and seven appearances as a substitute last season in Ligue 1, Cavani had 20 goalscoring opportunities defined by Opta as big chances .

Wor…

Juventus star Gonzalo Higuain has been left out of Argentina s squad yet again by Jorge Sampaoli, but Roma winger Diego Perotti has been recalled from the international wilderness.

Argentina face friendly matches against Russia and Nigeria this month as they begin preparations for next year s World Cup, which they only progressed to thanks to a Lionel Messi inspired victory over Ecuador in their final qualifier.

Higuain has been left out again despite strong form at club level, scoring four goals in his last three matches for Juventus.

The 29-year-old played 45 minutes in Sampaoli s first match in charge against Brazil in September, but he has not been named in a squad since.

Perotti has fought his way back into contention, though, with the Roma forward r…

Carlo Ancelotti is taking no enjoyment from bitter rivals Barcelona s ongoing struggles as he backed Real Madrid to continue improving.

Barca have managed just two wins from their opening five LaLiga games of the season and were beaten 3-0 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week.

The pressure is mounting on head coach Ronald Koeman following Thursday s stalemate with Cadiz, a result that leaves the Catalan giants down in seventh place.

LaLiga leaders Madrid are already seven points better off than Barca, albeit having played a game more, but Ancelotti is only concerned about his own side s performances.

I m not happy if a team has a bad time, he said at Friday s news conference previewing Madrid s home match with Villarreal on Saturday. 

…

Jose Mourinho revealed Tottenham s players were left disappointed by the draw with Chelsea, with the Spurs boss lauding a complete change of mentality .

Spurs returned to the top of the Premier League table – on goal difference – thanks to a 0-0 stalemate at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, as Mourinho arrested a two-match losing streak in the top-flight to his former star player Frank Lampard.

Tottenham, who were 2-0 winners over Manchester City last time out, managed only five attempts, with just one of those on target, which came from Serge Aurier in the 15th minute.

Chelsea, on the other hand, had 13 goal attempts, with Hugo Lloris called into action three times – twice late on to deny both Mason Mount and Olivier Giroud, who latched onto a Joe Rodon error …

Antoine Griezmann admitted he was yet to get to his best at Barcelona and said he needed more time.

Griezmann has struggled to make his mark at Barca since arriving from Atletico Madrid for €120million last year.

The forward has scored just 17 goals in 58 games in all competitions for the LaLiga giants, who are struggling in 13th in the table.

Griezmann said he was prepared to accept criticism of his performances, but highlighted it had been a difficult period for the club.

I accept them because I know that we are not seeing the best Griezmann, he told Movistar on Monday.

He added: In a year and a half I have had three coaches that s not easy. I need time to adapt to my colleagues and they to me, and on top of system changes.

In additi…

Neymar s ninth goal of the season moved Paris Saint-Germain three points clear at the Ligue 1 summit following a 1-0 victory over 10-man Marseille.

The Brazil international s strike in first-half stoppage time was enough to settle the Classique as PSG registered 23 shots on goal in a deserved triumph at Parc des Princes.

Marseille had Samuel Gigot sent off for a dangerous challenge on Neymar as the visitors suffered their first away defeat of the season.

Meanwhile, Christophe Galtier s side stretched their unbeaten league run to 20 matches – their longest streak in the French top flight since going 21 games without defeat between May 2018 and January 2019.

Some Brazilian magic in the first half |

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

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Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has extended his contract with the Premier League leaders through to June 2024.

Elneny is the longest-serving player in Arsenal s squad and has made 155 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions since his 2016 arrival from Basel.

The 30-year-old is currently sidelined after being forced to undergo surgery on a knee injury in January, but he has made five Premier League appearances this season and is regarded as an experienced leader in Mikel Arteta s squad.

Elneny s contract was previously due to expire at the end of the season, but the Egypt international is set to stay in north London until at least the end of next campaign following his renewal.

I m so happy, I love this club and our supporters so much and I…