Zlatan Ibrahimovic sends warning to Man Utd forward over keeping first-team role

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has urged Manchester United starlet Anthony Elanga to keep ‘striving for more’ after forcing his way into the first-team at Old Trafford.

Elanga, 19, has been a bright spark during a forgettable season for United, breaking into the side under interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

The forward has made eight starting appearances in all competitions this season, scoring a memorable equaliser away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League while also getting on the score sheet against Brentford and Leeds United.

Elanga has earned a call -up to the senior Sweden squad for the upcoming game against Czech Republic.

Ibrahimovic, who played alongside the United man’s father Joseph Elanga at Malmo, believes the teenager is on the right path – but warned it is now up to him to continue the hard work.

‘A great talent, we are proud and happy that he comes from Sweden,’ Ibrahimovic told SVT Sport.

‘The fact that he is able to represent Sweden now makes it even bigger.

‘He has all the future ahead of him, and if he continues just as he has done, it looks positive. It’s just to fight, never be satisfied, strive for more.

‘It depends on him how far he can go.’

Should Sweden beat Czech Republic on Tuesday, they will go onto meet Poland to fight for a place in this year’s World Cup.

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