Jose Mourinho has branded Zlatan Ibrahimovic "an amazing player" and backed the Swedish international to thrive in the "biggest challenge of his career" in the Premier League.

Mourinho formed a strong relationship with Ibrahimovic when the pair were together at Inter Milan, and the Portuguese has brought the 34-year-old striker to new club Manchester United this summer.

The former Chelsea manager has called his relationship with the experienced forward "absolutely beautiful" and also paid tribute to the qualities of the Swede, who ran down his contract at Paris Saint-Germain to move to Old Trafford on a free transfer.

"Zlatan is Zlatan. He wins year after year. His goal record is absolutely amazing, his passion for the game is incredible and it's only possible with his passion and ambition, with his CV, to make the decision at this stage of his career, for the biggest challenge of his career," Mourinho told MUTV.

"It's the biggest club he's ever played for and the most difficult competition he's ever played for. He is an amazing player. I think it's a beautiful thing when a coach has a player and, a few years later, has him again.

"It is beautiful, absolutely beautiful because it means the relationship was fantastic from a personal point of view and the professional engagement was great too. A few years later, we're back together so I'm happy with that and I know what he can bring to us."

Man United have become Ibrahimovic's eighth professional club.