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Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will be even better upon his Manchester United return

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates after giving Manchester United a 1-0 lead

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he will be even better upon his Manchester United return and expects "great things" in Jose Mourinho's second season at the club.

The 35-year-old has re-signed for United on a one-year contract as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury sustained in April.

However, he says he is feeling strong as his comeback progresses and is motivated to return to Old Trafford as a "better version" of the player who scored 28 goals in 46 games last season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring the opening goal for Manchester United at Sunderland
Image: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in 46 games last season

"I feel good. I have trained every day since I had my knee operated on, there is no vacation," he told www.manutd.com.

"It's a new challenge for me obviously but I am strong mentally and when I focus on an objective nothing can stop me. It doesn't matter what's in my way I will break everything to reach my goal.

"When I come back to play football on the field I will be better than before. I am not coming back because I am the one I am, I am coming back to be a better version of the old one. Imagine how that will be."

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Thierry Henry believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic will come back strongly from injury after re-joining Manchester United

Ibrahimovic's return will see the striker join up with Mourinho again after the pair worked together previously at Inter Milan before being reunited last summer.

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The Portuguese has won the league title in his second season at Porto, Chelsea (on two occasions), Inter and Real Madrid and Ibrahimovic believes this campaign will be an exciting one for United.

"What he has brought to the club and the team is the winning mentality. He knows what he is doing. He has been doing this before and wherever he went he won," he said. "He's a winner and I'm happy to be in that environment, that is what I stand for and what I like to be around.

Jose Mourinho hugs Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the EFL Cup final, February 2017
Image: Ibrahimovic’s return will see the striker work with Jose Mourinho again

"We have to remember the second year of Mourinho is always the best one. This year will be very exciting and with these new players the team is stronger and I expect us to do great things.

"I think the pressure is even higher from last season and with the new players the team is better. We lost [Wayne] Rooney which is a big loss, but with the three new players, I think the team is stronger than last season.

"The aim is the same as last season, we go for every trophy we play for. That is what I came to United for, to lift these trophies and have those happy moments. This is something I used to see when I saw Manchester United. The hard work we are putting down means the results will come in the end."

The former PSG and Barcelona player also praised the city of Manchester's passion for football and even joked that rival Man City fans switch allegiances when they see him.

"It's amazing, the passion for it," he said. "Wherever you go you see a fan, and the thing is with United we have fans everywhere.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic poses after re-signing with Manchester United
Image: Ibrahimovic poses after re-signing with Manchester United

"So when I walk into the city I always see a red shirt. Hearing them talk about their club, talking about yourself, the players... you see that they have a big passion for football and that gives you extra motivation and extra happiness.

"When I see City fans, or when they see me, they turn into United fans, so that is a great thing that has happened to the city!"

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