Zlatan Ibrahimovic has slammed the media for showing "a lack of respect" to Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney after he was photographed intoxicated on international duty.

Rooney was snapped looking worse for wear as he reportedly crashed a wedding at England's team hotel in Hertfordshire between the recent international matches against Scotland and Spain.

Sections of the media claimed Rooney's role as England captain was in jeopardy as a result of reportedly being drunk, with interim manager Gareth Southgate apparently disappointed by the striker's conduct.

However, the Football Association confirmed that Rooney had the night off and Ibrahimovic was not impressed with the media circus surrounding the situation.

Ibrahimovic told BT Sport: "People talk, people write; I mean I really don't know what has happened and I'm 100 per cent sure the media doesn't really know the real story.

"He is a public person; he is a captain for the national team, for the club and people want to write about him. 

"I think there is a lack of respect and just pushing out everything instead of appreciating him for who he is and what he has done, so I think the situation is exaggerated. 

"I have the same thing when it comes to me."