Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 'I have made critics eat their balls'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United in action during their Premier League clash with Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic says that his goalscoring form for Manchester United has proven to critics that he can cut it in the Premier League.
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Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hit back at critics who believed that the attacker was too old to thrive in the Premier League.

The former Sweden international, who turned 35 in October, has scored 17 goals since moving to Old Trafford on a free transfer in the summer after ending a four-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain.

In 2016, Ibrahimovic scored 50 goals in total, just one short of Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who ended the year as top scorer in world football.

The outspoken striker, who had a goal ruled out in Saturday's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough, has insisted that he has proven his doubters wrong in just five months.

"It gives me a lot of energy, trust me. A lot of energy, because they get paid to talk shit and I get paid to play with my feet - that's how I enjoy it," The Mirror quotes Ibrahimovic as saying.

"I had a fantastic year. At PSG it was amazing, and I came to United and my first six months here have been more than amazing. I came to the Premier League and everyone thought it would not be possible but, like always, I make them eat their balls.

"I'm super happy and I feel good. I don't know how many years I have left, but I'm enjoying the football. Every year, [United] have been calling me and they was not feeling good, so I wanted to come when everyone thought I was over [the hill]."

As well as United and PSG, Ibrahimovic has played for Malmo, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in action during his side's Premier League clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 19, 2016
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea20161342152749
2Liverpool20135248232544
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs20126239142542
4Manchester CityMan City20133441221942
5Arsenal20125344222241
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd20116331191239
7Everton208662823530
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom208572824429
9Bournemouth207492934-525
10Southampton206681925-624
11Stoke CityStoke206682432-824
12Burnley2072112231-923
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham2064102335-1222
14Watford2064102336-1322
15Leicester CityLeicester205692431-721
16Middlesbrough204791722-519
17Crystal Palace2044123037-716
18Sunderland2043131937-1815
19Swansea CitySwansea2043132345-2215
20Hull City2034131744-2713