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Mourinho: Zlatan's 'big ego' is good for Manchester United

Tony Gentile / Reuters

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic has brought with him the kind of confidence and bravado that makes him a star, and it's not a problem in the slightest.

Ibrahimovic, who made the switch to Old Trafford out of Paris Saint-Germain, joined the Red Devils for training for the first time on Thursday, and Mourinho was left impressed once more with the player he once managed at Inter Milan.

"With Zlatan you may see someone with a big ego, big self-esteem, but it is in a positive way," Mourinho told MUTV. "When he is with the group, he is humble and friendly to everyone - integration is good."

Ibrahimovic may be a big name and a larger-than-life personality, but on the training field, Mourinho says, the Swedish striker is always looking to bring others into play, a trait that makes him a "fantastic player."

"Immediately in training, we could feel what I call 'functional empathy' - people looking to him, him looking to connect with other players," he explained. "He is an amazing link player, an amazing player. He could be anything on the pitch, not just a goal-scorer."

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