Jose Mourinho: This is what I think about Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic signed for United on a free transfer on 2 July after Sweden’s exit from Euro 2016.

Though he navigated Man United back into the Champions League in the 2014-15 season, they were unable to get past the group stage in their 2015-16 campaign, finishing third in their group behind Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven.

After that, Mourinho’s men fly out to China on Tuesday for their tour of the Far East. The manager wants to give Ibrahimovic, who is on holiday in America, extra rest before the Premier League season.

United face Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22 before heading to Beijing to take on Pep Guardiola’s City on July 25. Last year’s deadline day acquisition of Martial worked out but Mourinho thinks leaving it late damages the squad’s equilibrium. While England worldwide Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling and Marcus Rashford are likely to be named in the squad travelling to China, they are most likely not to feature.

Mourinho had nothing but kind words to describe his signing, telling Adidas Front Row: “Zlatan?”

Mourinho, who is staying temporarily at The Lowry Hotel in the city centre, made the short walk to Bem Brasil with his assistant Rui Faria and three other members of his coaching staff. At this time we [Dortmund] were not so successful, so it was not easy for him to adapt.

“But when you see how he played a year ago, it was really incredible”.

Sure, he’s yet to kick a ball for them or appear in one of those utterly freakish trailers, but make no mistake about it – the Swede is doing things that none of the club’s players have ever managed before.

By that I don’t mean that he has the Manchester United job, but that he has it at this very specific time. Let’s see. For the moment I’m at Juve and I’m happy.