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.
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 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.
Meanwhile, as one legend arrives at Old Trafford, in the form of Ibrahimovic, another departs.
United have agreed a settlement with Ryan Giggs who will quit after 29 years at the club.
Giggs rejected the offer of a reduced role under Mourinho, who will bring his own backroom team.
Mourinho’s No 2 was always going to be Rui Faria, the compatriot with whom he has been inseparable since 2001.
So Giggs has started the search for a new role. There are no clear opportunites at the moment so the decision was made to accept ITV’s offer of an analyst role for the rest of the Euros.
He is expected to carry out more media work until the managerial merry-go-round spins into action and opens new doors.
The challenge for United now, is to provide a fitting send-off for the most decorated player in British football history as the club is keen to give Giggs a goodbye worthy of his historic standing.
ZLATAN 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.'
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