Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko has exclusively revealed to GIVEMESPORT who his footballing idol was, and it’s a face familiar to fans at Old Trafford.

Sesko has just completed the first season of his career at the Red Devils following a £74m move from RB Leipzig last summer, where he finished the season as the club’s joint top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, including strikes against Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, and Everton.

The 22-year-old has excited fans at the club with his high intensity and highly athletic style, and is tipped by many to become the long-term solution to the number nine position in years to come.

While speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the Slovenia international was asked about his greatest influences and footballing idols growing up, and he revealed that his main influence is a man who lit up Old Trafford during his 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.

“Just in general football, skills, goals, it was just something that I used to try to go out and copy. It could be in the summer when it’s really hot, I just wanted to get better.”

Ibrahimovic joined Man Utd on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain back in the summer of 2016, and scored a brilliant 28 goals in 46 appearances in his debut season, helping the club win the Carabao Cup and the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.

But he suffered a serious knee injury towards the end of that campaign, and while he returned to feature seven times the next campaign, the Sweden legend then departed mid-season to move to the MLS with LA Galaxy.

Sesko Reveals ‘Love’ for Cunha, Fernandes, and Mbeumo

During his exclusive interview with GMS, Sesko was also asked about his relationship with his current teammates, having joined alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer.

All three players notched double digits for goals in their first season at the club, and Sesko believes the relationship they have off the pitch has contributed to their success on it.

“I think everyone has different kinds of skills that they can bring on the pitch, which is really important,” he said.

“We don’t have everyone with similarities, and it’s important in the club that they have all these skills. I think we’re all really skilled, and the quality that we brought this season, I think we can be more than happy.

“Not just that, I think we also work great as friends. It’s important to have good relationships that can bring success in the end.”

Rangers have already made a strong start to their summer transfer window with the arrival of Lawrence Shankland, but they are already looking at the next deals they want to complete.

The Ibrox club have completed a move to sign Shankland on a free transfer from Hearts, with the striker penning a three-year deal at the Glasgow club and taking the number seven shirt ahead of his participation at the World Cup.

Now Danny Rohl is looking to add more options to his defence during the upcoming window, with a number of central defenders leaving and needing to be replaced.

Rangers Eyeing Casper Widell Deal

According to a report by Rangers Review journalist Chris Jack, Rangers are eyeing up a move to sign Excelsior defender Casper Widell this summer.

Widell, who stands at 6ft 3 and has been described as ‘incredible’, enjoyed a strong season in the Eredivisie making 34 apperances as the team finished 13th in the Dutch top-flight.

The 23-year-old’s performances have attracted the attention of English Championship sides Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, but Rangers are also understood to be showing an interest in his services as they look to bolster their defensive options.

Derek Cornelius and Nasser Djiga have both returned to their respective parent clubs following their loan spells this season, leaving Rohl with just Emmanuel Fernandez and John Souttar as senior centre-back options

But even Fernandez has been heavily linked with an exit away amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, and that means that new defenders are a priority for Rohl.

Rangers Have a Huge Summer Ahead

After throwing away their chance at the Scottish Premiership title this season, Danny Rohl knows that this summer is of the utmost importance for him and Rangers.

The club have already addressed the issue of a lack of goals in their squad by adding long-term target Shankland, but defence is a big problem for them now after so many absences.

Widell may be a bit of an unknown, but he has experience playing at a high level, is only 23 meaning there is plenty of room for improvement, and physically looks more than capable of being able to cope. For the right fee, it could be a shrewd bit of business, and would help to fill a glaring hole in their squad.

Although Michael Jordan is often remembered as an untouchable competitor thanks to his flawless NBA Finals record and overwhelming control of the league throughout the 1990s, his rise to championship success was anything but immediate. Jordan didn’t capture his first NBA title until his seventh season in the league.

Like many all-time greats, Jordan endured years of setbacks before finally reaching the pinnacle. Countless legends have had to battle through losses against established stars before becoming champions themselves. Those difficult defeats often provide the lessons that shape future greatness, and Jordan’s journey was no exception.

During the 1980s, MJ developed several notable rivalries as he emerged as the NBA’s premier talent. He frequently ran into roadblocks created by Isiah Thomas’ Pistons and Magic Johnson’s Showtime Lakers. Jordan’s teams were eliminated from the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, with five of those exits coming against just two opponents. Three postseason losses came against Detroit, while two of his earliest heartbreaks were delivered by a player widely regarded as one of the greatest in basketball history.

Michael Jordan Praised NBA Legend For Having No Weaknesses

Before suffering consecutive playoff sweeps at the hands of that star, Jordan was asked about him in 1987 and offered a surprisingly unique assessment of his game.

But who was it he was talking about?

Larry Bird’s place among basketball’s all-time elite is well deserved. Across his Hall of Fame career, he earned 12 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA honours. Bird also captured three MVP awards, three NBA championships, and two Finals MVP trophies. Even though injuries shortened the latter stages of his career, he remains firmly in the conversation as one of the greatest small forwards ever.

What makes his accomplishments even more remarkable is that he achieved them without the elite athletic traits commonly associated with legendary players. Few superstars have reached his level while relying so little on physical advantages.

As Jordan pointed out, Bird’s game contained virtually no weaknesses. He wasn’t the fastest player on the court, nor was he known for explosive leaping ability. While those attributes can create advantages, they are not the defining characteristics of a champion.

Bird built his reputation through elite skill, competitive toughness, basketball IQ, and a confidence that often intimidated opponents. He was among the finest shooters of his generation, capable of scoring from long range, the mid-range area, or around the basket. Regardless of the situation, he had a knack for delivering big shots.

Beyond scoring, Bird was a gifted passer whose court vision ranked among the best the game has ever seen. He routinely identified opportunities before they developed and delivered creative passes with either hand. He also contributed heavily on the glass, averaging 10.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists throughout his career.

Defensively, Bird was never considered a shutdown one-on-one defender, but his awareness and positioning allowed him to be highly effective. He excelled within team defensive schemes and consistently used anticipation to offset any physical disadvantages.

Michael Jordan is widely regarded as the greatest player in NBA history. Bird isn’t far behind on many all-time lists, despite possessing nowhere near Jordan’s athletic gifts. Through a combination of skill, intelligence, and all-around excellence, Bird repeatedly challenged and defeated Jordan early in his career – a fact Jordan himself readily acknowledged.