Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic: What they have said about each other

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea knocked Zlatan Ibrahimovic's PSG out of the Champions League in 2014 quarter-finals

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic close to joining Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, we look at what the pair have said about each other over the years.

Sky Sports News HQ understands United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Ibrahimovic's representatives are finalising terms on a one-year contract, with Mourinho determined to make the Sweden international his first marquee signing at Old Trafford.

It would represent a blockbuster reunion for Mourinho and Ibrahimovic, who spent the 2008/09 season together at Inter Milan before the Swede moved to Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

The two personalities clashed at times but Ibrahimovic fired 25 goals as Mourinho steered Inter to the Serie A title, and they formed a strong bond during their time together. With a reunion on the cards, we look at what they have said about each other over the years…

MOURINHO ON IBRAHIMOVIC

In April 2014, Mourinho recalled an episode at Inter Milan when he refused to substitute an angry Ibrahimovic, who felt his team-mates weren't helping him to score the goals he needed to win the Serie A Golden Boot.

Ibrahimovic and Mourinho worked together at Inter Milan

"He was very angry and upset as he came at me. He was shouting, 'We are champions, I helped a lot to make you champions, now nobody's helping me. I want to [come off] now'.

"But I pretended not to understand him. I said, 'What? What? Do you want a drink, do you want some water?' and I threw him a bottle. I told him, 'Here, take a drink and go'. A few minutes later he scored a beautiful goal."

In the same interview, Mourinho admitted he had a special relationship with Ibrahimovic, whose dedication was as valuable as his quality at Inter.

"A player who gave me as much as Ibra will always be in my heart. He did a lot for Inter and Inter did a lot for him. I like seeing Ibra. I greet him whenever I get the chance to and I wish him all the best - except when he plays against me. He is very special, he is one of the best strikers in the world."

Sky Sports News HQ's Andy Burton explains the potential deal that would bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United Sky Sports News HQ's Andy Burton explains the potential deal that would bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United

It was not the first time Mourinho had sung Ibrahimovic's praises. In the middle of the 2008/09 season, he described the Swede as a bigger talent than Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Ronaldo is a good player but he is certainly not the best. He deserved the Golden Ball award because his team won the Champions League and the Premier League. But, for me, Ibrahimovic is the best."

Mourinho was less complimentary when explaining the decision to allow Ibrahimovic to join Barcelona a few months later.

"Inter had two possibilities, tell Ibrahimovic, 'We're not selling you', or take Eto'o, plus Hleb on loan for a year for free, plus 50m euros. To me that seems like an incredible deal, a deal worth 100m euros, the deal of the summer. Kaka 70, Cristiano Ronaldo 96. For me this is worth 100m because Eto'o is worth not even one euro less than Ibra."

I think it's a pity for him when he finishes his career and he played in the most important countries in the world of football, and won the most important championships in the world of football, but he didn't play in the best league in the world. Jose Mourinho on Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ahead of Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final with PSG in April 2014, Mourinho said it would be a shame if Ibrahimovic did not get the chance to play in the Premier League.

"I think he has to be where he is happy, and if he's happy in Paris then he has to stay. But at the same time I think it's a pity for him when he finishes his career and he played in the most important countries in the world of football, and won the most important championships in the world of football, but he didn't play in the best league in the world and never won the best league in the world. That's a pity."

IBRAHIMOVIC ON MOURINHO

In an interview with French outlet Telefoot in March 2015, Ibrahimovic hinted that he would like to work with Mourinho again.

"We worked together for one year at Inter. The feeling was great between us and my only regret is that we were together for only one year."

Ibrahimovic devoted plenty of his autobiography, 'I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic', to discussing his former coach.

"Jose Mourinho is a big star. The first time he met my partner Helena, he whispered to her, 'Helena, you have only one mission: feed Zlatan, let him sleep, keep him happy.'

The feeling was great between us and my only regret is that we were together for only one year. Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Jose Mourinho

The Swede also used his autobiography to compare Mourinho to Guardiola, who he didn't see eye to eye with at Barcelona.

"That guy says whatever he wants. I like him. He's the leader of his army. But he cares, too. He would text me all the time at Inter, wondering how I was doing. He's the exact opposite of Pep Guardiola. If Mourinho lights up a room, Guardiola draws the curtains. Mourinho would become a guy I was basically willing to die for."

On leaving Inter Milan to join Barcelona in 2009, Ibrahimovic said: "No matter how happy I was going to Barca, it was sad to leave Mourinho. That guy is special."

Ibrahimovic offered further insight into Mourinho's managerial techniques in Carlo Ancelotti's recently published autobiography 'Quiet Leadership'.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season

"Mourinho is the disciplinarian. Everything with him is a mind game - he likes to manipulate. Such tricks were new for me - all the time doing one thing to get another thing, all the time triggering me. I like these games and it worked for me; I became top scorer under him and we won the league."

The striker revealed how Mourinho's motivational techniques get the blood pumping before Inter's games.

"The way Mourinho prepared for games was also new to me. I would get pumped up, believing the story he would feed us. I went through a lot of adrenaline when I played for him. It was like nothing was ever good enough. He gave and he took. Jose Mourinho knows how to treat a footballer, but Carlo knows how to treat a person."

Ibrahimovic showed more admiration for Mourinho ahead of last season's Champions League meeting with Chelsea - two months after his former manager's sacking.

"I think everybody will miss Mourinho in the game. But I believe he will be back soon in football and if you are a little patient you will soon see him managing another club."

Ibrahimovic was right about that - and it looks as though the Swede could soon join him at Old Trafford…