Kyle Walker likens Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘presence’ to Wayne Rooney when discussing what it is like to work with legendary Swedish striker at AC Milan

Kyle Walker has explained what it is like to work with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, comparing the AC Milan legend’s “presence” to that of Wayne Rooney.

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WHAT HAPPENED?
England international Walker finds himself alongside former Swedish striker Ibrahimovic at San Siro after sealing a January loan move from Manchester City. The 34-year-old made that switch in a bid to take on a new challenge and experience life outside of his homeland.

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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Ibrahimovic, who now fills an advisory role for Milan’s ownership team, was among those that helped to talk Walker into leaving the reigning Premier League champions and linking up with Serie A giants.
WHAT KYLE WALKER SAID
On the Kyle Walker Podcast, the veteran full-back said of crossing paths with Ibrahimovic for the first time since facing him in a playing capacity: “[Zlatan] is a presence. I'll tell you that - he's a presence.
“I wouldn't say I was starstruck because I played against him. So, I've seen him before. So it wasn't like, 'Oh my gosh, I've seen this incredible player that's, you know, represented all these fantastic clubs!' But, he has an aura and especially around Milan and around the building.
“When I signed for them and everything like that, you can just see the presence that he has and the respect that he's developed in the city: from the staff, the fans, and the players as well when he comes around the training ground. Everyone is...he's still like a player, but he's got a different role now. But, the aura that he has is incredible. He's brilliant.”

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DID YOU KNOW?
Walker went on to say of Ibrahimovic, who boasts the kind of global superstar status that few players in the English game enjoy: “It's, you know, what he's done for this club, what he's done for the city, you know, what he's done personally himself for football.
“You know, he deserves everything that he's got and the aura that he's got, because I think only certain people...you have certain players. I think the only one probably like that, that I could probably relate to is [Wayne] Rooney. But, we look at Wazza in a different light because we know him personally. So, we see Wayne with the kids, Wazza just being Wayne. We don't see him as 'Rooney'.”
WHAT NEXT?
Walker has enjoyed a productive start to his spell in Milan, but has been unable to help the Rossoneri force their way up the Italian top-flight table. He is, alongside the likes of USMNT star Christian Pulisic and Portuguese forward Rafael Leao, hoping to secure European qualification before the 2024-25 campaign comes to a close.

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