Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manchester City coaches’ goading of Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have played a key role in the explosive Old Trafford tunnel bust-up on Sunday.
Members of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff allegedly picked on the Swedish striker as they made their way back to the changing room.
Spanish newspaper Marca claimed they told the 36-year-old: ‘Ibra, you talk a lot but you move a little.’
That helped spark the 30-man brawl in the immediate aftermath of City’s 2-1 win at the home of their fierce rivals.
Players traded insults and punches as City celebrated a victory that handed them an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League after only 16 games of the season.
Ibrahimovic had a previous hitch with Guardiola and his coaching staff after falling out with them during his one-year spell at Barcelona in 2009-10.
The two failed to see eye-to-eye at the Nou Camp, and Ibrahimovic has moved on at the end of the season.