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Manchester United have completed the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with manager Jose Mourinho hailing the new arrival as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’.
And a delighted Ibrahimovic, 34, said: ‘I cannot wait to work with Jose Mourinho once again.
‘He is a fantastic manager and I am ready for this new and exciting challenge. The only regret I had with Jose was that I had a short time with him. I had one season (at Inter Milan). We won together, we enjoyed it together and had a great time together.
I learned a lot and I got to know him as a person, not only as a coach, and only positive things.
‘He’s a winner, I’m a winner and we both know what we want. We want to win. Wherever we go, we win. And we will win.’
The Swedish striker, who has won titles in four countries, arrives at Old Trafford on a free transfer after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain ended.
He has signed a one-year deal with an option for a further year worth £200,000 a week. He revealed that United was to be his next destination on social media on Thursday in a move which stunned Old Trafford officials, who were still to agree terms.
But he jetted into Manchester on Friday, completed a medical at the club’s Carrington facility and was a United player by 6pm.
ZLATAN’S FIRST MANCHESTER UNITED INTERVIEW
How does it feel?
‘I’m super excited, super, super happy. Finally it’s done. There’s been a lot of talks but it came to the moment where everything is done, and now we start. Now the hard work starts, so I’m super happy.
‘I’m just waiting to get to know the guys, the first training and I’m here in the training facility. It looks like it is a big club, a huge club, so I’m excited.’
Are you glad the speculation is over?
‘I’m happy, now I can focus on one thing and that’s the United shirt, and leave everything behind me. Because I played the European Championship and there was more talk about my future than the Euros.
‘Finally now everything is over and I can focus on my new club and go back to hard work and doing as good as possible.’
Did Jose Mourinho influence your decision?
‘I think my decision was pretty easy. (The difficulty) was more to make it possible, everything. I compare it with the Mayweather and Pacquiao fight – they said it would never happen but it happened.
‘I want to say thanks to my team, United and Jose Mourinho, obviously, because they made it possible. Now I’m at United, so I’m super happy.
‘So my decision was the easiest part. The rest was a puzzle, but the puzzle came together and we are happy, all of us.’
Are you excited to be working with Jose again?
‘I have great memories. The only regret I had with Jose was that I had a short time with him. I had one season. We won together, we enjoyed it together and had a great time together.
‘I learned a lot, and I got to know him as a person, not only as a coach, and only positive things.
‘He’s a winner, I’m a winner and we know both what we want. We want to win. Wherever we go, we win. And we will win.’
Is the Premier League the only missing piece in your career?
‘I think it’s a big challenge for me. Wherever I came I won, and I’m looking forward to this new adventure, a new chapter in my career, in my life.
‘If I could win here, I don’t know how many players have had the possibility to play in different competitions like I have and at the same time be winning.
‘So I will work hard. I know my mentality, I know what I want, I come to win. I want to win, but behind everything is hard work. That is what we have been doing so far, and that is what we come to do here also.’
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC: FACTFILE
Date of birth: October 3, 1981 (aged 34)
1999-01 Malmo – Games 47 Goals 18
2001-04 Ajax – Games 110 Goals 48
2004-06 Juventus – Games 92 Goals 26
2006-09 Inter Milan – Games 117 Goals 66
2009-10 Barcelona – Games 46 Goals 22
2010-12 AC Milan – Games 85 Goals 56
2012-16 PSG – Games 180 Goals 156
2001-16 Sweden – Games 116 Goals 62
TOTAL: Games 793 Goals 454
Honours: Eredivisie (2002, 2004), KNVB Cup (2002), Serie A (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), Italian Super Cup (2006, 2008, 2011), La Liga (2010), Spanish Super Cup (2009, 2010), UEFA Super Cup (2009), FIFA World Club Cup (2009), Ligue 1 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), Coupe de France (2015, 2016), Coupe de la Ligue (2014, 2015, 2016), Trophee des Champions (2013, 2014, 2015)
Mourinho said: ‘Zlatan needs no introduction. The statistics speak for themselves. Ibra is one of the best strikers in the world and a player who always gives 100 per cent.
‘He has won the most important leagues in the world of football.
‘Now he has the opportunity to play in the best league in the world. I know he will grasp this opportunity and will work hard to help the team win titles.’
Ibrahimovic scored 156 goals in 180 appearances for PSG. He added: ‘I’m super excited, super, super happy. Finally it’s done.
‘There’s been a lot of talks, but it came to the moment where everything is done, and now we start. Now the hard work starts, so I’m super happy.
‘I’m just waiting to get to know the guys at the first training. It looks like it is a big club, a huge club, so I’m excited.
‘I’m happy, now I can focus on one thing and that’s the United shirt.
‘My decision was pretty easy. It was more to make it possible, everything. I compare it with the Mayweather and Pacquiao fight — they said it would never happen but it happened.
‘If I could win here… I don’t know how many players have had the possibility to play in different competitions like I have and at the same time be winning.’
IBRAHIMOVIC UNDER MOURINHO
League appearances – 35
League goals – 25
Cup appearances – 3
Cup appearances – 3
European appearances – 8
European goals – 1
Ibrahimovic becomes Mourinho’s second signing following the £30million capture of Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal.The new manager is stepping up his recruitment drive ahead of the new season.
Talks are ongoing with Borussia Dortmund over Armenia playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 27. His arrival is not thought to be far away for a fee of around £26m.
A chartered jet from Dortmund landed at Manchester Airport at 3.30pm on Friday, but club officials would not confirm whether Mkhitaryan was onboard.
However, United’s official website carried images of their new blue away kit available to order with Mkhitaryan’s name printed on the back.
Fans were able to purchase the new strip complete with his name until the page was removed and an error message replaced it.