Slovenia forward Benjamin Sesko has now explained the huge impact that one commanding former Manchester United striker had on him growing up.
Benjamin Sesko impressed in the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League season after the arrival of Michael Carrick as Manchester United’s interim head coach.
The 23-year-old Slovenian forward had struggled to find his regular goalscoring form under Ruben Amorim before the former United manager was sacked in January.
However, Sesko’s turnaround in form under United legend Michael Carrick saw him score seven times in 13 Premier League matches for the Red Devils.
What is your message to Benjamin Sesko after his impressive debut season for United?⚽️🔥
12 goals in all competitions in 19 starts is a brilliant record⚡️
Benjamin Sesko on the influence that former Man Utd and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had on him
Benjamin Sesko has talked up Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s influence on him in the past ahead of completing his debut season at Manchester United.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho’s reign in the previous decade, is widely regarded as one of the best strikers of all time.
The 44-year-old former Sweden and United striker lifted both the League Cup and Europa League trophies in his debut season at the Red Devils under Jose Mourinho.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sesko praised the former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan striker for the massive impact that he had on his playing career.
“My idol is Ibrahimovic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” he said.
“Great player, of course. He was amazing. I looked at him a lot, but not just him.”
Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko become second ever PL trio to score 10+ goals in debut season🔥
What an incredible achievement, how many goals should they each be aiming for in 2026/27?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s impact on Benjamin Sesko did not define the Man Utd star’s entire playing style as a striker
Outside of the idol status that Zlatan Ibrahimovic holds for him, Sesko admitted that he looked at other important ways to build himself into a complete striker.
“Just in general football, skills, goals, it was just something that I used to try to go out and copy,” Sesko explained.
“It could be in the summer when it’s really hot. I just wanted to get better.”
Sesko found the back of the net 12 times and registered a single assist in his 32 matches across all competitions for United since his 2025 move to England.
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