Manchester United needs some ‘cojones’ and we all know that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has some really big ones. Speaking to the Mirror, the former Inter Milan forward revealed that he could have joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2015, but he didn’t think that it was the proper time.
However, once the Old Trafford outfit appointed the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’, Jose Mourinho, as their manager, the taekwondo champion of a forward didn’t need much convincing.
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"There were talks about me coming to United one year ago, that is correct,” Ibrahimovic 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.”
He then went on to reveal the seven words the former Real Madrid manager told him and those words were like ‘Abracadabra’ to bring the ‘Ibracadabra’ magic to the red side of Manchester.
“It was only enough to call me and say, ‘Listen, I’m waiting for you in Manchester’, and I was coming.”
The former Sweden international then went on to insist that he knows what the former translator and assistant of the legendary Sir Bobby Robson wants out of his players. And that he also shares the Portuguese’s winning mentality.
“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.”
Manchester United may not have made the blistering start that was being expected of them after spending a gargantuan amount of money in the transfer market, but there is still a long way to go.
And the former AC Milan forward believes that he and Jose Mourinho—together—will bring the glory days back to United.
“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.”
Like every successful person will tell you, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is of the opinion that working hard is the only way to get to the top, along with having a strong mentality.
“I believe in hard work. You work hard, you get paid back. You don’t work hard, you don’t get anything back.
“And I believe 50 per cent of this sport is in your head, it’s a mental thing. Prepare mentally, you make it easier.
“So, it’s not only about how good your skills are, if you don’t have the mental part, you’re not ready for this world.”
Ibrahimovic then went on to reveal his nature; that he doesn’t really care about what others think about him and that he walks at his own pace.
“Not many believed I would come to the Premier League, to Manchester United. But I don’t follow what everyone else says. I do what I want, I do what I believe in.
“I’m just myself. I don’t pretend to be somebody else.”
Ibrahimovic and co. will take on Liverpool on Monday, in what will be his first M62 Derby.
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