Ibrahimovic: Critics get paid to talk rubbish, I get paid to play with my feet

Ibrahimovic: Critics get paid to talk rubbish, I get paid to play with my feet

The Swedish striker has hit the ground running in the Premier League despite doubts about his age

Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, effusive in his praise of Lionel Messi recently, has hit out at the media after he was criticised during a dry spell earlier in the season at his new club. 

"Criticism gives me a lot of energy," he said after his side's late win against Middlesbrough on Saturday. "Critics get paid to talk rubbish. I get paid to play with my feet. That is how I enjoy it."

The Swedish forward, who has now scored 17 goals in 27 games with United, is taking heart from his first season in England: "Every year the Premier League has been calling me but I wanted to come here when everyone thought I was over the hill.

"They said it would not be possible but I always make them eat their words."

The former Barça striker also looked back over 2016, a year in which he won four titles and scored a lot of goals, for both Paris Saint-Germain and United. 

"It was a fantastic year for me," he added. "It was amazing with PSG and my first six months with United have been more than incredible. 

"I'm super happy and I feel good. I don't know how many years I have left, but I am enjoying football. United called me every year. I wanted to come when they thought I was finished." 

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