Wayne Rooney tipped to take on former Manchester United teammate in Boxing ring

Zlatan Ibrahimovic might be the one to face Wayne Rooney in the boxing ring, according to boxing legend Paulie Malignaggi.

Rooney has been linked with a high-profile boxing match organised by KSI's Misfits Boxing. And Malignaggi thinks that if Rooney steps into the ring, his opponent could be a surprise - in former United teammate Ibrahimovic.

Rooney and Ibrahimovic were teammates at Old Trafford for the 2016-17 season before the former went back to Everton. After losing his job as Birmingham manager in January, the striker is keen to find another coaching role. Meanwhile, Ibrahimovic retired from playing last year aged 41.

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Malignaggi reckons a match between Rooney and Ibrahimovic would smash all pay-per-view records. Speaking to Lord Ping, as reported by the Daily Mail, Malignaggi said: "Rooney should go down the Jake Paul route, you've got to fight another footballer or NBA guy, or a rugby guy. Start with that.

"Jake Paul started with retired NBA guys, so I don't think Wayne goes right into a fight with a real fighter. Go with another well-known athlete.

"If we're going to do another footballer, make Rooney versus Ibrahimovic. That fight would break all pay-per-view records, that would easily do a million buys. Easy.

"Think about the promotion, the video clips of the two being physical on the football field, you could sell them as fighters in that way. Wayne and Zlatan is the one I want to see.'

Promoter Kalle Sauerland confirmed that he has had chats with Rooney about a possible fight. He told talkSPORT: "The discussion