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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been well paid for the first four goals of his Manchester United career.

But any suggestion he is just here for the money should have drifted away during the final minutes of the 2-0 win over Southampton at Old Trafford on Friday night.

The game was already won. Ibrahimovic was already the match winner.

But as Jordy Clasie prepared to lift a free-kick into United’s penalty area, it was the striker, front and centre, arms out-stretched, who was organiser in chief.

Moments later, Dusan Tadic turned and fired a shot into the side netting.

It prompted Ibrahimovic to trot back towards David De Gea’s goal and tell everyone involved what might have been done better to prevent the chance occurring at all.

The conversations continued after the final whistle as the United fans sang about their ‘Swedish hero’. The adulation would have to wait.

When Wayne Rooney went off in the last minute and was replaced by Chris Smalling, he handed his armband to Daley Blind. Ibrahimovic, though, had appointed himself captain long before.

He’s only been at the club for a few weeks after he was granted an extended holiday following Euro 2016. But his influence over Jose Mourinho’s new team is already telling.

United missed his goals last season – he scored more for PSG last season than United managed in total in the Premier League – but also everything that comes with them. The personality. The confidence. The swagger.

Mourinho has revealed young players like Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford have been drawn to sit at his table for meals at Carrington.

Rashford, in particular, has much to gain from two years alongside a striker who averages better than a goal every two games after 17 years at some of the biggest clubs in the world.

Even if Ibrahimovic can deliver a league title or two, Rashford may end up being the 34-year-old’s greatest gift to United and Mourinho.

It is easy to look at the ‘I am Zlatan’ brand he has created and decide he is just in it for himself.

His scissor kick three minutes into his first United game prompted a reaction along the lines of ‘that’s how Zlatan does debuts’.

But, as his team tried to close out a valuable win on Friday night, he showed there is more to him than the spectacular and the outrageous.

In fairness, diligently organising a back four to defend a free-kick is not likely to sell books and T-shirts. Just ask Steve Bruce.

His goals – four in his first three games – have helped United win the Community Shield and sit top of the Premier League after two games.

But his influence is being felt beyond the confines of the opposition penalty box. It is the type of thing money cannot buy.

WATCH: Ibrahimovic's new United chant.