UK Edition
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: I am back at Man Utd to win the Premier League
Zlatan Ibrahimovic decided to re-sign for Manchester United as he is convinced they will win the title this season if he plays alongside Romelu Lukaku in attack.
Ibrahimovic said he had postponed a move to the MLS to have another crack at the Premier League, and the former Sweden striker was in typically forthright and confident mood when asked to explain his decision.
Having decided to announce he had agreed a new one-year contract by posting a picture of himself dressed as Jesus shaking hands with a Red Devil, the striker claimed he has seen enough to know Jose Mourinho’s side will be the best team in the country because of the quality of their summer signings.
His rapid return from injury – the 35-year-old could be playing again by the end of October – will merely be the finishing touch.
“I come back to finish what I started,” said Ibrahimovic, who will probably find he is used more sparingly by Mourinho following the £75 million signing of Lukaku from Everton.
“From my first year here the team has been winning trophies and learning the sacrifice it takes to win a trophy. And the mental part and that is what I think the coach brought the team, the mental thing and me as a player.
“In the Premier League there are many [rivals], which are top six let’s say. They will give a hard time for everybody.
“Like last season Chelsea was the best team, they won. You’ll still have Chelsea, you have Liverpool, I think Everton are not to be underestimated because they have a great coach and they are investing a lot to win. And obviously you have Arsenal, [Manchester] City. So, I think it will look like last year but this year the Red Devils will be on top.”
United initially seemed reluctant to renew Ibrahimovic’s contract, given he earns around £350,000 a week and would not play for so long. It was also the first major physical breakdown of his career, raising fears he would not be the same player when he did return.
However, having decided to carry out his rehabilitation at United’s Carrington base, Ibrahimovic has stunned medical staff with the speed of his recovery and a player who scored 28 goals in his first season in England sees no reason why he will not return as strong and as mobile as he was before the injury.
“In the beginning when it [the injury] happened, it was something new for me because it was a big injury,” Ibrahimovic told ESPN FC. “But mentally I am strong. I work hard, I haven’t had a day off since the injury. I want to be the one I was, and even better.”
Asked about Lukaku, Ibra added: “Yeah, I’m happy he came. I think the team is much stronger this season, although we lost [Wayne] Rooney, a legend.
“Signing Lukaku makes us even stronger, because he has different qualities from me as a striker and from [Marcus] Rashford as a striker. He is a powerful guy and he brings extra qualities in a game.”