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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Had To Be Held Back By Jose Mourinho After Being Called 'Big Nose'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Had To Be Held Back By Jose Mourinho After Being Called 'Big Nose'

The Swede is known for having a fiery temper.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has revealed he once called Zlatan Ibrahimovic 'big nose' - with Jose Mourinho getting between the pair.

Rojo has revealed he insulted the Swede during their time together at Old Trafford and he didn't react well.

The striker barged into the changing rooms and wanted a piece of the Argentine before Mourinho intervened.

'He wanted all the balls you see," Rojo told Infobae.

Image
PA

"We were winning 1-0 at Old Trafford. We were giving them a dance, I was playing central defender. I come out playing, I pass half the pitch.

"There he pulls back. The pass between the lines was there. But there was Pogba alone on the left, so I gave it to him, and Paul began to showboat. Zlatan starts cursing me.

"I follow it. 'Shut up, big nose. You want all the balls'. Arguing loudly. We finish the first half and go to the locker room. I'm in my place, taking off my boots. And he enters angrily, he kicks something. He stops, looks at me and yells at me: 'What did you say to me?'

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PA

"So I also stop and say - 'What did you say to me?' - Although inside I was hoping someone would separate us, because he could have killed me. And the English, all big, separate us. Mourinho enters screaming, scrambling bottles. A mess in the locker room. Then it's done, we win and go to the next round."

The 30-year-old then revealed the pair settled their differences the following day - but only after Zlatan showed off his terrifying martial arts skills.

"The next day, early, I was having breakfast. I felt grabbed at the back of the neck, and I couldn't turn. And he says - 'What did you say to me?' - and he started laughing.

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PA

"Anyway, thank goodness the karate move was a joke: I was already done, I'd never get out of it."

Rojo and Ibrahimovic won the Carabao Cup and Europa League together at United and Rojo, who spent last season on loan at Estudiantes, admitted he admires the 38-year-old's fiery personality.

"Players like Zlatan have a terrific personality. He's a winner. He gets at you because he wants to win. He knows that you can give more. I learned a lot from him. One of the biggest winners I saw."

Featured Image Credit: PA Images

Topics: Football News, Jose Mourinho, News, Football, Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Premier League