Manchester United miss Ibrahimovic, on the off the field. He arrived in the summer of 2016 as a veteran but any doubts over his ability and capacity to cope with Premier League life were quickly extinguished.
The Sweden international was a big hit at Old Trafford during his 18 months at the club. In his first season, he bagged 28 goals as the club won the EFL Cup and Europa League titles.
Ibrahimovic was also a leader at Manchester United. He mentored Marcus Rashford, was looked up to by Jesse Lingard and even managed to keep Paul Pogba in check.
A captain, albeit one without the armband.
How Solskjaer could do with somebody like Ibrahimovic now.
United lack leadership. They have done ever since the Sweden international left for LA Galaxy in March 2018.
It is no coincidence that United under Jose Mourinho were better on the field and harmonious off it without the charismatic Swede in their ranks.
When he left, everything fell apart. Including Mourinho, who was sacked back in December with the club stuck in a rut.
Solskjaer wants to be a United hit. But, tellingly, he admitted he needed a leader in the mould of Bryan Robson in a recent press conference.
“I never had the honour of playing with Robbo but we need a player like him in the team,” he said on the club’s pre-season tour.
“We’re waiting for the young ones to come through because we’ve got so many exciting players and I’m sure we’ll see the best of them in the years to come.
“There are some experienced ones as well that still have a few years left in them. We can get back to the level we were, definitely.”
United need to appoint a club captain this summer.
But the candidates are a far cry from the team of a decade ago. Then, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and even Cristiano Ronaldo were all capable of skippering the side.
Now, there are just three real options.
One is Ashley Young. A brilliant professional, but surely set to play second fiddle to Aaron Wan-Bissaka next season.
Then there’s Pogba. A player who wants out, and whose agent loves to stir controversy.
Lastly, there’s David De Gea. A goalkeeper whose form has plummeted and who is yet to commit to Solskjaer’s project long-term.
Solskjaer has a problem. There’s nobody truly befitting of the armband.
And he can blame Ibrahimovic’s exit in 2018 for such troubles at Old Trafford.