Mourinho salutes Ibrahimovics immediate impact

Jose Mourinho expects Zlatan Ibrahimovic to help Manchester United rule the Premier League after the Swedish star marked his debut with an excellent goal in Sunday’s 3-1 win at Bournemouth.

After winning league titles with Ajax, Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimovic has his sights set on adding a Premier League medal to his glittering trophy cabinet.

Ibrahimovic has now scored on his debut in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 and the Champions League and United manager Mourinho is confident his close-season signing is only just getting started.

The 34-year-old, who arrived from PSG on a free transfer, scored United’s third goal with a well-struck 25-yard shot, earning an early comparison with Old Trafford icon Eric Cantona.

“Eric Cantona was here at the best moment in his career. This guy (Ibrahimovic) is more than a player,” Mourinho said.

“For the next two seasons I think he can be phenomenal for the team and the Premier League.

“It’s incredible how Zlatan has never won the Golden Ball, but he wants to win the Premier League, not the Golden Ball.”

Ibrahimovic admitted it isn’t always easy to adapt to a new league, so he was delighted to get off to a winning and goal-scoring start to life in the English elite.

“The team did good. It was a difficult game. In the first half we weren’t 100 percent but we had more space in the second half and could play our game,” Ibrahimovic said.

“It’s important to start good. Being new to the league is not easy. Everything is new for me, my team-mates, the clubs, the environment. I just play my game.

“I try to do my job and help my team. The first objective is to win, it’s also good if I score. But it’s the same importance whoever scores.”