Man Utd star pauses Dubai holiday to send emotional four-word message to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after career news

Manchester United midfielder Anthony Elanga has penned an emotional four-word thank you message to Swedish compatriot and former Red Devils star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The football legend confirmed his retirement from the sport on Sunday as AC Milan closed their Serie A season with a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona, which the 41-year-old missed due to a calf injury.

An emotional Ibrahimovic addressed the San Siro as he hung up his boots for good after an illustrious 24-year career that included 511 club goals, 34 major trophies and 11 Ballon d'Or nominations.

Addressing the crowd, Ibrahimovic said: "I say goodbye to football, but not to you. There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye.

"The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love.

"You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life."

The emotional scenes prompted an outpour of love from football stars and fans across the globe, including young Manchester United player Anthony Elanga.

Born in Malmo, the same Swedish town as Ibrahimovic, Elanga took time out from his holiday in Dubai to pen a four-word message to the talisman.

Writing in Swedish, Elanga's message translated as: "Thank you for everything, King."

Elanga's breakthrough into the Manchester United first team came three years after Ibrahimovic had left Old Trafford in 2018, but the two were friendly thanks to the Sweden set-up.

Ibrahimovic has spoken fondly of the two's first meeting, which actually came when Elanga was a young teen and the part the current United player's dad played in the conversation.

Ibrahimovic previously said: "First time I met him, we were in the restaurant in the [United] training ground and he came up to me and he said, 'you know my father' and I was like, help me now because I don't know who I'm talking to.

"'You played with my father Elanga', and then everything clicked and I said 'OK', and it made me happy because I wasn't the only Swedish one in Manchester, we had another Swedish player."

The striker also praised Elanga's 'adventure' into professional football and marked him as 'something to watch for another 20 years'.

Elanga himself has opened up about his love for Ibrahimovic and said: "You can see for the past 20 years what he's done for the national team, and obviously at the club football level, you can see the way he's scoring his goals.

"Even when I was young I used to look up to him, being from Sweden.

"When I found out that he signed for United, I couldn't wait to speak to him, ask him about the memories he had with my dad.

"It means a lot, you know, to be able to see him day-in, day-out here, train with him - it's an honour."