The announcement caught United by surprise although the club were obviously well aware that he had agreed to join them. However he has not formally signed a contract – a deal of one year with an option for a 12-month extension – or completed a medical.

There were strong suggestions last night that the 34-year-old Swedish international would now fly into Manchester today with his agent Mino Raiola, who is also conducting the deals for two of his other clients: Pogba and Mkhitaryan.

United have already signed Ivory Coast central defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal for £30.4 million as new manager Jose Mourinho, who worked with Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan, steps up his wholesale rebuilding plans.