Papin: Ibrahimovic is like Van Basten

Former France striker Jean-Pierre Papin has backed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score more than 30 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season. The giant Swede has netted seven times in his first five games in Ligue 1 following his big-money summer move from AC Milan. That puts him on course to pass 30, the highest total Papin managed during the five successive years he finished as the league's leading marksman. And the former France international has backed Ibrahimovic to do so, though he feels the league's all-time record of 44 - set by Marseille's Josip Skoblar in 1970/71 - will remain out of reach. "It seems difficult for him to keep up his rhythm from the start of the season until the end," Papin told Le Parisien. "During the season he will of course have slumps of several games without a goal, or injuries or suspensions. We haven't had a goalscorer like him in France for a long time. He is on a different planet to anyone else. Jean-Pierre Papin on Zlatan Ibrahimovic "But he has a great team around him. I believe he will pass my total of 30 goals, but Skoblar's 44 seems too much." Papin likened Ibrahimovic to Dutch great Marco van Basten, a former team-mate of the Frenchman at the San Siro. He said: "He's the type of player that impresses me, he's a powerful and tough guy. It's rare to see a player like that who has such a good touch in front of goal. It is this combination of power and finesse that impresses me. "He is like Marco van Basten, who I played with at Milan. He has the same style of play as him with more physical power. "He has enormous experience of the top level, which will serve him well in Ligue 1. We haven't had a goalscorer like him in France for a long time. He is on a different planet to anyone else." FIFA