Welcome Zlatan

The former Ajax and Barcelona player will pen a one-year deal with the option of an additional year, and it could all be wrapped up before the European Championship kicks off next week.

Amid reported interest from China, as well as old club AC Milan, Ibrahimovic has chosen United for one last shot at the big time. Apparently, he was offered much more money to move to the Chinese Super League, but instead will settle for the paltry weekly wage Ed Woodward has offered him (sure to be around the £250-300k mark) to pull on the famous red shirt next season -- already sacrificing for the cause!

Ibrahimovic is no spring chicken but, at 34 years old, the swaggering Swede still managed 52 goals for French champions Paris St. Germain last season.

Ibrahimovic Zlatan (I feel we can be familiar with our Zlats) will bring plenty of experience to Old Trafford, Having played in five countries across the continent, including spells with most of the major clubs you could care to name -- Ajax, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and PSG.

He is also a serial winner, having won nine league titles in his last 10 seasons. The one pot missing from his trophy cabinet is the Champions League Europa League, which he'll get a crack at with United.

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Chelsea FC

The driving factor behind Zlatan joining United, is the new gaffer, José Mourinho. The pair only worked together for one season at Inter, but it was enough to leave a lasting impression on the lanky marksman.

In his entertaining, if slightly apocryphal, autobiography, Ibrahimovic lavished praise on Mourinho:

Now, we don't want anyone dying or being killed at United, but we appreciate the sentiment.

And as much as Zlatan loves The Special One, he might just hate Pep Guardiola even more -- a feeling that he shares with Mourinho -- which will make the derbies next season especially interesting, with Guardiola now in charge of Manchester City.

Ibrahimovic played under Guardiola for a single season following his move from Inter to Barcelona. It's fair to say the two men didn't get on, with the Swede labelling Guardiola a "spineless coward" in his autobiography, and criticising his tactical decision by saying "you bought a Ferrari, but drive it like a Fiat."

Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images

So what will Zlatan bring to Old Trafford next season? Well, you can bank on plenty of Pep baiting, a fair amount of Mourinho bromance, plenty of quotable press-conference fodder to keep the media-types happy. Oh, and a goal or two wouldn't go amiss.