Zlatan Ibrahimovic compares Manchester United move to Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao
Swede's transfer to Old Trafford was finally confirmed and he likened it to anticipation preceding the 'Fight of the Century'
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has compared his move to Manchester United to Floyd Mayweather's much anticipated fight with Manny Pacquiao — because no one thought it would happen.
And, in his first interview since completing the free transfer, insisted he was delighted to finally get the transfer's concluded.
He said: "I’m super excited, super happy. Finally it’s done. It has been a lot of talk but it came to the moment where everything is done and now we start.
"Now the hard work starts. I’m just waiting to get to know the guys, to train the first training and I’m here in the training facility. It looks that it is a huge club. I’m excited.
"Now I can focus on one thing and that’s the United shirt and leave everything behind me because I played the Euros and there was more talk about my future than the Euros.
"Finally, everything is over, now I can focus on my new club and go back to hard work and do as good as possible.
"My decision [to move to United] was pretty easy. I compare it with Mayweather and Pacquiao fight.
"They said it would never happen but it’s happened. I want to say thanks to my team, United and Jose Mourinho obviously because they made it possible and I’m at United so I’m super happy. My decision was the easiest part, let’s say.
"The rest was a puzzle but the puzzle came together. And we are happy. All of us.
"I come to win! I don’t come to waste time. I don’t come to look at the weather.
"That is my objective.I don’t give up until I win. We play the Europa League. Everything we play for, we go to win.
"With the coach, with the players, everybody working collective, playing collective, you reach your goals. So we will do all of the things we need to do to reach our main goal.
Ibrahimovic also admitted he is delighted to be playing under Mourinho again after enjoying a season with the self-proclaimed Special One at Inter Milan in 2008-09.
"I have great memories. My only regret with Jose was that I had a short time with him. I had one season and we won together, we enjoyed together. We had a great time together.
"I learnt a lot and I got to know him as a person, not only as a coach. Only positive things.
"He’s a winner. I’m a winner. We both know what we want. We want to win. Wherever we go — we win. And we will win."
The Swede has won titles in Holland, Italy, Spain and France and insists playing in England for the first time will send shockwaves around the world.
He said: "I am looking forward to the whole Premier League. To be representing Manchester United is the big thing.
"I think every game will be ‘wow’ for the world. Especially everything that is going on with the new coaches, with the new players. And me coming is part of it.
"It will be a funny year and a good competition. A hard competition, but I’m not worried.
"I’m looking forward to the first game at Old Trafford. I will enjoy every second, every minute of it.
"The stadium is amazing, the supporters are even more amazing. That will be a big day for me.
"This is something I am absolutely looking forward to.";
United have excited youngsters such as Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial — and Ibrahimovic, 24, insists he will act as mentor for the kids.
But he warns them they need to produce the hardwork themselves.
He added: "I have experience from different cultures where I was. From different teams, different team-mates and world class team-mates.
"So I learnt myself from them.
"First of all, it’s up to every player. If you’re professional, if you’re working hard enough, you will succeed. You will become mature and I will do my best to help everybody.
"I want to help bring the club up to where they belong — that’s on top of the table. So, I’ll do my best."