Zlatan Ibrahimovic Compares to Neymar and Luis Suarez, Says Gianluca Zambrotta

Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still as good at 34 as Barcelona duo Luis Suarez, 29, and Neymar, 24, according to the Swede's former team-mate Gianluca Zambrotta. 

Ibrahimovic is likely to be crucial for United manager Jose Mourinho on Saturday when they take on neighbours and fellow Premier League table-toppers Manchester City—both sides, along with Chelsea, have won all three of their games so far in the 2016-17 season.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star has scored three times in three Premier League games, and Zambrotta, who played alongside the Swede at Juventus and AC Milan, believes he still compares to the best players in the world, per Brendan McLoughlin in the Sun:

"Wherever Zlatan plays he does very well. He is a winner everywhere he goes. He compares with the best players at the moment like Suarez and Neymar. I played with him twice and he’s a good professional and has good motivation. I have always liked him."

Having won league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France, Ibrahimovic has already imposed himself on the Premier League following his summer transfer to Old Trafford.

Per football writer Graham Ruthven, he has supplanted captain Wayne Rooney as the most influential player at United:

His immense experience and proficiency in front of goal will make him a key player when United host Pep Guardiola's City on Saturday in a match that could have repercussions at the end of the season when the title is decided.

Zlatan has already thrown down the gauntlet to new Sky Blues goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who is likely to be the man between the posts attempting to stop Ibrahimovic from scoring at Old Trafford:

The last two seasons have seen four Manchester derbies played out in the Premier League, with City winning one, United two and one 0-0 draw. 

However, both sides are very different now, with Mourinho at the United helm in place of Louis van Gaal and Guardiola having replaced Manuel Pellegrini at City.

While neither of the Manchester giants made a genuine tilt for the title last term, both are expected to challenge to the end of the season in 2016-17.

As a result, Saturday's clash has an extra edge, while Mourinho and Guardiola's chequered history as rival managers elsewhere makes the match even more intriguing.

City will be without Sergio Aguero on Saturday after the Argentinian was suspended for three matches, but Guardiola still has the in-form likes of Nolito, Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva to call upon in attack.

Ibrahimovic will have no fear of coming up against City's star-studded side—he has faced similar pedigree in the past and will be backed up by the likes of Rooney, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The presence of such quality on the pitch could make Saturday's derby one of the best Premier League clashes in years.