A year ago
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the retired Swedish football icon, has made a striking gesture by scribbling out the name of a long-serving Manchester United star in his handwritten list of the best XI players he has played with throughout his career.
Following his decision to retire, Ibrahimovic bid farewell to the game during AC Milan's final Serie A match of the season. The emotional reception he received left him visibly moved, and fans were seen shedding tears as they said goodbye to their hero.
Previously, Ibrahimovic had shared a post on Instagram revealing his dream team of players he had the pleasure of playing alongside. The list included football giants such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram, Thiago Silva, Alessandro Nesta, Patrick Vieira, Pavel Nedv?d, and Maxwell.
Interestingly, Ibrahimovic also included himself in the starting XI but provided a substitute bench as well. However, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea had his name crossed out in Ibrahimovic's handwritten selection.
De Gea had played alongside Ibrahimovic during the latter's two-year tenure at Old Trafford from 2016 to 2018. During this period, De Gea delivered some of his finest performances as United's goalkeeper. The team won the EFL Cup and the Europa League in 2017, with De Gea earning a spot in the Premier League Team of the Season for both campaigns.
The substitute bench featured other esteemed players like Andrés Iniesta and Fabio Cannavaro. Notably, Ibrahimovic seemed to have replaced De Gea with former Inter Milan and Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Despite the crossed-out name, it is worth mentioning that De Gea is expected to extend his contract with Manchester United, albeit with reduced wages. His contributions to the club have been highly regarded, and he remains a valued member of the team.
In conclusion, Ibrahimovic's handwritten best XI list of players he has played with stirred some attention as he scribbled out the name of David De Gea, the longstanding Manchester United goalkeeper. While this decision may have surprised some, it does not diminish the achievements and contributions De Gea has made throughout his time at Old Trafford.
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