Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that he turned down the chance to join Manchester United last year, but did not have second thoughts when the call arrived from Jose Mourinho this summer.
The ex-Sweden international made a high-profile switch to Old Trafford as a free agent in July after running down his Paris Saint-Germain contract.
It is the second time that the 35-year-old has linked up with Mourinho, following their successful time together at Inter Milan when winning the Serie A crown in 2008-09.
Ibrahimovic now has more titles in his sights at Old Trafford, having hit the ground running with six goals in his first 11 games, but admits that he did not fancy making the move to the Red Devils 12 months prior when Louis van Gaal was in charge.
"There were talks about me coming to United one year ago, that is correct," he told The Mirror. "But I didn't believe in it then because it was not the right moment. Then they get the Special One and when the Special One calls you and when he starts to talk to you, you are already convinced.
"He didn't need to talk a lot to convince me. It was only enough to call me and say, 'Listen, I'm waiting for you in Manchester', and I was coming. I know what he wants, his demands and I know what he goes for. He is a winner. I see myself as a winner also. I like to win. I'll do everything to win. He thinks the same thing.
"We won when we were younger and we will win when we are a little bit older. The more time we spend together, the more time we train together, the better we get. At the end, you see the guy who lifts the trophy - you don't remember the one game, you remember the trophy you lift."
Ibrahimovic's two sons, Max and Vincent, are said to have joined United's academy ranks.
Daniel Lewis
