Zlatan Ibrahimovic opens door to extending Manchester United stay and says 'turning down a challenge does not exist in my world'

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is open to extending his contract at Manchester United if he can still perform at the highest level, but insists he will not be satisfied living off his reputation in England.

The 34-year-old Swedish star is set to make his Premier League debut at Bournemouth Sunday after signing a one-year deal with United last month with the option of a 12-month extension.

But Ibrahimovic is refusing to put a time limit on his United career, saying: ‘You never know. It could be more than two (years), it could be more than three.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is open to extending his stay at Manchester United beyond this season 

Ibrahimovic wants to see 'how long I feel like I can perform' before making a decision

Ibrahimovic has already claimed his first piece of silverware with the Community Shield

‘Let’s see how long I feel like I can perform. I will not be somewhere only because I am Ibrahimovic. I will be somewhere because I can perform and bring results.

‘I have been at the top for 10-15 years, I have played for clubs that players could only dream about and I have won with every club I have been at.

‘Turning down a challenge does not exist in my world. I have been in every country, now England, and that is why I find the adventure cool. I came, I won, I went. Hopefully I can do the same here.

‘The only risk is if I don't win. For me, individually, I don't see a risk. I have nothing to prove or demonstrate. I have my career, I have done what I have done, performed as I have, and I bring that to England. It’s about coming and winning and making Manchester United shine again.’

'Ibra' scored the winner against Leicester in the Community Shield and wants United to shine

In an interview with Sky Sports, Ibrahimovic denied that he is arrogant despite describing himself as ‘a lion’ on the football pitch.

‘I am a normal person,’ he added. ‘People have the image of me that I’m a bad boy. I’m this and I’m that. People are curious. How is this Zlatan?

‘I'm a family guy. I'm taking care of my family, but when I come on the pitch I'm a lion. That's the big difference.

‘I don't believe I'm arrogant in the way that people think. I'm confident. I believe in myself. That's not being arrogant. That's something I believe is an individual strength in the human being.’

Jose Mourinho thinks his rivals are 'afraid' to say they want to win the Premier League

United boss Jose Mourinho was also in outspoken mood on Friday, accusing his Premier League rivals of being ‘afraid’ to back themselves in the title race.

Arsene Wenger has been downbeat about Arsenal’s hopes, while Claudio Ranieri claims there is more chance of ET landing in Piccadilly than Leicester retaining their crown.

‘We feel that we are candidates to win the title,’ said Mourinho. ‘At Man United Football Club you cannot speak differently, we have to fight for the title.

Paul Pogba will not play against Bournemouth as he serves a one-match suspension

‘Many more think the same way as us but they are afraid to say it.

‘They prefer to play a defensive game in words. They prefer to say or to hide or to play defensively with the words. That's not our way. I don’t think that's Man United. I think Man United has to say “we want to win the title”.’

United’s world record £89million signing Paul Pogba has been ruled out of the trip to Bournemouth after it emerged that the former Juventus midfielder must serve a one-match ban imposed on him in Italy.