Manchester United superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes "there is no-one better" than his former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Marco Verratti.
Verratti will feature in Italy's midfield when they step out at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Friday to face Sweden in the first leg of their 2018 FIFA World Cup play-off.
Even if he were not injured, the hosts, who finished runners-up to France in the group stage, would not be able to call on their talisman Ibrahmiovic as he retired from international football after UEFA EURO 2016.
The United forward, who is expected to make his return to the pitch soon following a serious knee ligament injury sustained last season, told Italian media Verratti — heralded as the natural successor to the recently-retired Andrea Pirlo — is an exceptional talent.
"No-one is better than him, but you have to play him in the right way to get the best out of him," said the 36-year-old former Juventus, Inter and AC Milan forward, who joined PSG on the same day as Verratti in summer 2012.
"You have to play him like at PSG where he plays in central midfield."
