Zlatan Ibrahimovic has come to the defence of Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney labelling him “the perfect player” and saying that he deserves more respect, after the England captain broke the club’s European goalscoring record in a 4-0 win over Feyenoord.
Wayne Rooney became Manchester United’s record European goalscorer in his side’s impressive 4-0 Europa League win over Feyenoord at Old Trafford.
Rooney linked up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score his 39th continental goal for United late in the first half, moving him past the mark he previously shared with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
It comes after Rooney, who is one goal away from matching Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record of 249 goals, defended himself following criticism of his conduct while on England duty.
“He is a fantastic person,” Ibrahimovic, who assisted Rooney’s opener, told BBC Sport. “I am happy he broke the record. But I will help him to go one more. That I see as the real record.”
Rooney apologised last week for “inappropriate” pictures of him at a wedding at the national team’s hotel during the international break.
But on Saturday he said the reporting showed “a lack of respect”, adding: “It feels as if the media are trying to write my obituary.”
He was annoyed to be asked about it again after the Feyenoord game, saying: “All that’s created by people like yourself asking questions, making a big deal out of nothing.
“I didn’t set foot in the wedding and it’s a shame to have to speak about it on nights like this.”
Ibrahimovic said: “I think when you are famous like that, people are interested. They want to know everything.
“We should appreciate him for the player he is, what he did. I don’t see many players from England who have had the same career as him. They should show more respect for him. Everybody wants to make a little thing a big thing.”
Manager Jose Mourinho said: “People like him doesn’t need to answer any more, just enjoy a few more years of his career and playing the best he can.”