Vieira praises Ibrahimovic influence at PSG

Former France international Patrick Vieira believes striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the key to Paris St Germain’s Ligue 1 title tilt this season.

Vieira played alongside Ibrahimovic at both Juventus and Inter Milan and says the Sweden international, who scored all four goals in this month’s international friendly against England, will be instrumental in PSG’s bid to be crowned champions this term.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side slipped to third in the overall standings last weekend following a home defeat by Rennes, but Vieira thinks Ibrahimovic, 30, is a world beater who can bring huge success to the Parc des Princes.

“Zlatan is with the best, because Zlatan is a guy who will make a difference, who will make you win or lose a trophy,” Vieira told www.ligue1.fr.

“He will be the one who will score between 25 and 30 goals. I think when you are a player you just have to look at what he has achieved so far.

“I think he has won nine trophies in the last 10 years. What I really like about Zlatan is that he is not on the field to play around, he is there because he wants to win. He is a winner.”

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PSG have been transformed since the Qatar Investment Authority became sole shareholders of the club earlier this year and gave them a huge cash injection, allowing big-name players to come to the club.

Maxwell, Thiago Motta and former Chelsea defender Alex were brought to the club at the start of the year and were joined by several other players during the summer including Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic, who both moved from AC Milan.

Vieira thinks by bringing such players to Ligue 1, PSG are really putting French football on the map.

He said: “Paris St Germain are doing something really good for the league, for French football in general, because they are bringing talents and when you bring in talents you bring in fans, and when you bring in fans you bring in media, and when you are bringing media you are bringing in the whole world.

“I believe that bringing players like Ibrahimovic and Silva is helping French football to become well known all around the world. So I believe that is positive for French football.”