Jose Mourinho hints at Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford partnership

Marcus Rashford in action during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Aston Villa on April 16, 2016
© Getty Images
Jose Mourinho hints that he wants to pair 18-year-old Marcus Rashford and 34-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Manchester United attack next season.

Jose Mourinho has suggested that he wants to pair Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Manchester United attack next season.

Rashford burst onto the scene in the second half of last season, netting eight goals in 18 first-team appearances for the Red Devils, before earning a spot in the England squad for Euro 2016.

Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic, who is 16 years older than Rashford, has arrived at Old Trafford this summer on a free transfer after running down his deal with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

It had been claimed that Ibrahimovic's arrival would harm Rashford's development, but Mourinho has insisted that the two forwards could complement each other in the same team.

"Let me start with one point. 34 is Zlatan's age and 18 is Marcus Rashford's age - 34 plus 18 divided by two is the perfect age for a football player," Mourinho told MUTV.

"So our two strikers, they are exactly in the perfect age because 18 is not the perfect age and 34 is not. So I think they can be an amazing complement for each other with their qualities."

Man United will begin their preparations for the new campaign with a pre-season game against Championship outfit Wigan Athletic on July 16, although neither Ibrahimovic nor Rashford are expected to be involved.

Wayne Rooney of England applauds the supporters after his team's 1-2 defeat in the UEFA EURO 2016 round of 16 match between England and Iceland at Allianz Riviera Stadium on June 27, 2016 in Nice, France
Read Next:
Mourinho reveals plans for England trio
>

Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal00000000
2Bournemouth00000000
3Burnley00000000
4Chelsea00000000
5Crystal Palace00000000
6Everton00000000
7Hull City00000000
8Leicester CityLeicester00000000
9Liverpool00000000
10Manchester CityMan City00000000
11Manchester UnitedMan Utd00000000
12Middlesbrough00000000
13Southampton00000000
14Stoke CityStoke00000000
15Sunderland00000000
16Swansea CitySwansea00000000
17Tottenham HotspurSpurs00000000
18Watford00000000
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom00000000
20West Ham UnitedWest Ham00000000
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand