Story highlights
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic to join Manchester United
- Forward revealed move on Instagram
- Left Paris Saint-Germain after contract expired
- Retired from international football after Sweden exited Euro 2016
(CNN)Zlatan Ibrahimovic took to Instagram and Twitter Thursday to reveal he will join Manchester United ahead of the new season.
Ibrahimovic, whose contract was up at French champion Paris-Saint Germain, had long been linked with a move to Old Trafford and a reunion with his former manager Jose Mourinho.
In a tweet he wrote: "Time to let the world know. My next destination is @ManUtd."
Ibrahimovic told CNN last year that he had turned down two approaches to move to England during his career from Arsenal and Manchester City.
The 34-year-old, who worked with Mourinho at Inter Milan, retired from international football after Sweden's exit from Euro 2016 earlier this month.
Photos: A modern football icon
Photos: A modern football icon
I am a serial winner ...
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice for Manchester United in Sunday's 3-2 EFL Cup final win over Southampton as the Swede bagged his 32nd trophy.
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Photos: A modern football icon
Last season, Ibrahimovic scored 46 goals for Paris Saint-Germain as the French club stormed to a fourth successive league title. And as he says, there is only one Zlatan...
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Photos: A modern football icon
He is part of that exulted class of sport star identifiable by their first name alone -- Zlatan. A Swedish striker renowned the world over, Ibrahimovic has enjoyed a stellar career. An undeniable talent, he is as famous for his unique view on the world as he is for his soccer skills.
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"Ibra," began playing football in Malmo, Sweden, before later signing for the city's professional team. Here, he's pictured there in 2007 with children hoping to emulate the local hero.
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Now 35, he's never been short of self-confidence, even as a 17-year-old who was offered a trial with Arsenal. "Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger asked me to have a trial when I was 17," he wrote in his book. "I turned it down. Zlatan doesn't do auditions."
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His career has seen him play for some of Europe's biggest clubs, winning trophies in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France and England.
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The Swede spent one season at Spanish club Barcelona -- scoring 21 goals in 41 games for the Catalans. But he struggled to get along with the club's revered coach Pep Guardiola. In his book, Ibrahimovic described how players were supposedly banned from driving super cars to training.
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Ibrahimovic joined PSG from AC Milan in 2012. He spearheaded the club's rise to the upper echelons of European football, which has been funded by Qatar Sports Investments.
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Arguably the finest goal of Ibrahimovic's career arrived in Sweden's 4-2 win over England in 2013. From 30 yards out, he performed a spectacular bicycle kick, which looped over goalkeeper Joe Hart and was subsequently named goal of the year.
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Ibrahimovic prolonged his international career by helping his country secure a place at Euro 2016, at the expense of Denmark. Sweden won a two-legged playoff 4-3 on aggregate.
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The Swedish Postal Service honored the country's finest footballer with a range of his own stamps, released in 2014.
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Despite being one of football's biggest stars, Ibrahimovic is a family man off the pitch -- raising two children with his wife, Helena Seger.
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Behold the "Zlatan burger," a mountain of meat dedicated to the Swede. The $41 monster was the brainchild of French cafe manager Jean-Philippe Grandin.
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Manchester United has yet to confirm the move, but the forward is expected to have a medical on Friday before completing a deal.
It's a high-profile signing for United manager Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal at the end of May.
Ibrahimovic has been effusive in his praise of Mourinho in the past and told CNN that he considered him a "mastermind."
United finished fifth in the Premier League last season -- 15 points adrift of surprise champion Leicester City -- and failed to qualify for the Champions League.
It did manage to win the FA Cup after defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Wembley.
New era
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The brand and the man 03:05
Ibrahimovic will join the Premier League giant after a season in which he scored 38 league goals for PSG and 51 in all.
During his time in the French capital, he won 12 trophies in four seasons -- including the domestic quadruple on two occasions.
Ibrahimovic, who began his career with Swedish club Malmo, scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country before retiring earlier this month.
After making his debut for Malmo in 1999 he went on to play for Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan before moving to Paris.
He has scored 392 goals in 677 during his club career and will now hope to add to that tally in England.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 'Guardiola is not a man' 02:59
Ibrahimovic confirmed he would be leaving PSG in May while also revealed he would return in a "managerial capacity" once his playing career had ended.
"I am very proud of the last four years," he told the club's website. "I loved every day I spent here. Paris Saint-Germain has become a star club in the world and I played a key role moving it forward.
"It is now the right time for me to take a different path. I would like to thank my teammates, the technical staff and all the people in the club. My heart is with the fans. They were amazing from the first day I came here. They are the best fans in France.
"It is not a farewell but only an au revoir. I came like a king, I leave like a legend but I will be back."
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Ibrahimovic could make his United debut against Leicester City at Wembley in the Community Shield on Sunday August 7.
United's first league match takes place on Saturday August 13 away to Bournemouth.
