Zlatan Ibrahimović says Paris Saint-Germain's owners are "interested" in Wayne Rooney, as Manchester United supporters wait to discover whether the striker will continue his career at Old Trafford.
Rooney's omission from the first XI for United's Champions League round-of-16 second leg tie against Real Madrid fuelled speculation he could leave the club in the summer. No longer guaranteed a first-team role following the arrivals of Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie, he has endured an ambivalent season with the Red Devils.
So irked by suggestions of "tension" between himself and Rooney was Sir Alex Ferguson that he banned two journalists from his press conferences last month, and it is a poorly kept secret that PSG are admirers of the 27-year-old.
Rooney has scored on his last five starts for club and country
Ibrahimović, who has faced Rooney in Europe before while at Internazionale, was keen to promote PSG's attractions as the club reaps the benefits of Qatar Sports Investments ownership.
"If he wants to be part of the best project in football then there is only one club to sign for," Ibrahimović is quoted as saying in the Sun.
"Only he [Rooney] knows the decision he is going to make in the summer but the project we are trying to build here is clear.
"We are not content with being the dominant force in France, we want to be the top club in Europe as well.
"I can understand why the owners are interested in Rooney - he is in the top 10 of strikers in Europe."
Ibrahimović savours scoring against his former club
Ibrahimović, who scored PSG's first and assisted Blaise Matuidi's equaliser against Barça on Tuesday, is set to win his ninth league title in 10 seasons, following successful stints with Ajax, Juventus, Inter, Barcelona and AC Milan.