Can't wait to work with Mourinho again: Ibrahimovic

Swedish star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who recently retired from international football, said he is delighted to join Manchester United and cannot wait to work with head coach Jose Mourinho once again.

Ibrahimovic, 34, made 180 appearances for his former club French football champions Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 156 goals. He has won championships in four different leagues -- including stint at Inter Milan coached by Mourinho in 2008-09 -- since beginning his professional career with Malmo in 1999.

Zlatan represented his country 116 times, scoring 62 goals, before announcing his retirement from international football last month after his national side bowed out of European Championship.

"I am absolutely delighted to be joining Manchester United and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League. It goes without saying that I cannot wait to work with Jose Mourinho once again," Ibrahimovic said in a statement after signing a one-year contract on Friday.

"He is a fantastic manager and I am ready for this new and exciting challenge. I have thoroughly enjoyed my career so far and have some great memories. I am now ready to create more special memories in England," Ibrahimovic added.

A prolific striker, Ibrahimovic scored 18 goals for Malmo, 48 for Ajax, 26 for Juventus, 66 for Inter Milan, 22 for Barcelona, 56 for AC Milan and 156 for Paris Saint-Germain.

He is the only player to have won 13 championships in four top leagues (Eredivisie, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1).

He is also the only player to score in the UEFA Champions League with six different teams -- Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

Head coach Mourinho, who took over as United coach this season, was all praise for the talismanic striker.

"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 league championships in the world of football, now he has the opportunity to play in the best league in the world and I know he will grasp this opportunity and will work hard to help the team win titles," Mourinho said.

"I am certain that his talent will delight fans at Old Trafford next season and that his experience will be invaluable in helping to develop the younger players in the squad," the former Porto, Real Madrid and Chelsea coach added.

Earlier during his stint with Mourinho, Ibrahimovic had described the veteran coach saying: "From being a cat, I felt like a lion. He was amazing. He dragged out of me things that no other coach has done before. When I played I felt like a Terminator."

--IANS

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