Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at Michael Owen over criticism of the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic by pointing out the former United striker’s own goalscoring record.
Ibrahimovic was signed on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window – reportedly agreeing a £250,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford – and has since scored 13 goals in 23 appearances across all competitions.
However, Owen believes that due to his age the 35-year-old striker is only a short-term fix to a longer-term problem for the club – a comment which prompted a joking, but still scathing response from Mourinho.
He told BT Sport: “The reality is, Zlatan will score more goals for Man Utd in one season than Michael Owen scored for them in three seasons.
“He scored 17 goals in three seasons, Zlatan is almost there in six months, so he’s not a bad choice for us.”
Owen, who responded by noting that “managers are getting awfully touchy”, also joined United on a free transfer before scoring 17 goals for the club across three seasons and helping the Red Devils win the 2010/11 Premier League title.
His criticism of Ibrahimovic is not due to his current play, but instead Mourinho’s planning for the future.
“Zlatan [isn’t] the long-term type of player, a little bit like Robin van Persie,” he said.
“Bought for a purpose, one or two seasons, but at some point Man United have got to find the next Wayne Rooney, buying him at 18, 19, or producing one themselves.”
For the time-being Ibrahimovic is doing just fine. The Swede has scored eight goals in 14 Premier League appearances – five more than any other United player.
He’s also attempted 68 shots – 13 more than any other player in the league, meaning that if he can improve his finishing, United could well benefit further.
Mourinho’s side broke their run of 1-1 draws with an impressive 1-0 win over fifth-placed Tottenham on the weekend and will be looking to build on it when they take on Crystal Palace this evening.
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