Zlatan Ibrahimovic has admitted he has "concrete offers from clubs in England as well as Italy and from sides outside Europe". The 34-year-old, who would like to join Manchester United to team up with José Mourinho this summer, added that he had a "fantastic time" while playing for the Portuguese manager at Inter during the 2008-09 season.
The striker, who was talking at a Sweden press conference as they started their Euro 2016 build-up, was coy on whether one of the concrete offers had been from Manchester United but did, once again, talk about his admiration for Mourinho, who is expected to take over at Old Trafford in the next few days.
“I had a fantastic time with him at Inter and we said when I left that we might work together again,” he said. Asked whether he had spoken to Mourinho in the past week, Ibrahimovic answered: “I have spoken to Mourinho every day since I left Inter. We talk a lot.
“He is the man to bring Manchester United back to the top. If you want action, you get Mourinho. He is a winner.”
The 34-year-old was also asked about his age and whether that could count against him in the Premier League, but the he replied: “I have had a great season, a fantastic season. Age is not important. It is all in your head. If I want to make something happen I will make it happen. If I want to do something, I do it.”
Mourinho is currently mulling over whether to make a formal offer for Ibrahimovic to join him at Manchester United but both parties are considering their futures.
Mourinho has yet to finalise his contract to take over at Manchester United while Ibrahimovic has had a very lucrative offer from LA Galaxy as well as clubs in the Middle East.
“Nothing is happening at the moment,” Zlatan said. “I am focused on the Euros. We have two friendlies and then we go down to France. I can’t wait. I will tell you all when I want to. There are a lot of alternatives. I don’t have to make an announcement before the Euros. There is a lot being written about my next move, and I enjoy reading what you come up with.”
“One day I am moving to this club, the next I am 90% sure to go there, and 10% sure to go there. It is like cat and mouse. I enjoy being the mouse. I want to continue to play football, and to make the right decision. Everything I need to enjoy life, on the pitch and off the pitch.”
Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, has told United that Ibrahimovic will want at least in the region of £220,000-a-week to sign for the club.
Wayne Rooney is the club's highest earner at the moment on a weekly salary of £300,000 and it is not thought that Ibrahimovic's wage demands will be a stumbling block, especially as he would join on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, it still appears to be a case of when rather than if Mourinho is announced as successor at United to the sacked Louis van Gaal.
It is understood the situation continues to develop after talks between Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes and United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward began in London on Tuesday.
That was a day after United confirmed they had parted company with Van Gaal, who guided them to an FA Cup triumph last weekend but had a generally disappointing two-year tenure.
The club will play Europa League rather than Champions League football next season after finishing the 2015-16 Premier League season in fifth place.
It is expected Mourinho will oversee a major overhaul of the playing staff as he attempts to revive United’s fortunes — and Ibrahimovic’s is among a host of names being touted as potential new signings.
(Guardian service)
