Former Manchester United first team coach Rene Meulensteen believes Sir Alex Ferguson would have turned down the chance to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic ‘nine times out of 10’.

Meulensteen considers Ibrahimovic’s age would have counted against him if Ferguson was still in the dugout at Old Trafford, reports The Sun.

‘Maybe nine times out of ten he would not have made a decision like this,’

‘That is because of everything that Alex Ferguson wanted to do with youngsters – bring them through and improve them as players.

‘But if he felt the situation was there for the one time out of ten, he would do it. Like bringing in Laurent Blanc, a player in his 30s, after Jaap Stam left.’

Ibrahimovic joined United on a one-year deal, with the option of a second year.

The former PSG talisman will now reunite with manager Jose Mourinho, having worked with the ‘Special One’ during their time together at Serie A club Inter Milan.

Ibrahimovic scored 156 goals from 180 appearances for PSG. He has won championships in four different leagues since the beginning of his professional career with Malmo in 1999.

The Swedish striker has also represented his country 116 times, scoring 62 goals, before announcing his retirement from international football after Sweden’s exit from the Euro 2016 campaign.

Ibrahimovic becomes Mourinho’s second signing following the arrival of Ivorian defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal.