Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals how ‘bulls**t from haters’ helped him succeed at Manchester United

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed how ‘bulls**t from haters’ gave him the drive to succeed after completing his move to Manchester United in 2016.

Many doubted whether the Swedish striker could make an impact at United and whether he was ‘good enough’ for the Premier League following successful spells in Italy, France and for the national team.

Ibrahimovic insisted that he was determined to ‘make people eat their words’ as he went on to score 29 goals in two seasons at Old Trafford with the majority of the second campaign blighted by a severe knee injury.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic reveals ‘bulls**t from haters’ drove him to succeed at Manchester United

The Swedish striker helped United win the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield

After helping United win the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield, the 37-year-old believes he can sit back and take pride in proving his haters wrong. 

‘My challenge was, at the age I was, coming to England, where I had years of everybody was saying I wasn’t good enough and all this bulls**t,’ Ibrahimovic told ManUtd.com.

‘I like those things because they trigger me. They give me adrenaline. After three months, all of them were eating their own words. I needed new haters because all the old ones became my new fans!’ 

Ibrahimovic went on to score 29 goals in two seasons for the Red Devils at Old Trafford

After enjoying his time in the Premier League, Ibrahimovic insisted that the United fans made his time at the club that little bit more special. 

Ibrahimovic added: ‘Oh, the United fans, by the way… they are amazing. I’m not just saying that because I played for United. I know now because I’ve been on their side and I know the feeling they give you.

‘I don’t need to lick a**, but the fans were just amazing. I remember my first game in the Premier League at Bournemouth, I scored and the fans were singing my song for 45 minutes. 

Ibrahimovic insisted that the United fans made his time at the club that little bit more special

The 37-year-old now plays for LA Galaxy with his second MLS season starting in 11 days

‘After 20 minutes I was like: “Guys, please, my game is not really on top right now. Wait until I’m on top, wait and see!” Inside, I was like: “F***, this is fantastic!”

‘They really appreciated what I did and they were thankful. That is the best credit a player can get because when you do something and you get that response from the fans, it’s amazing. 

‘When you get that support, it makes you give more back to them. We owed that to them. That is what triggered me, the whole season, not only winning the trophies, although of course you want to win the trophies.’