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Man United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays down 'bad boy' reputation

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has told Sky Sports he does not believe he is arrogant, adding that he becomes "a lion" when he steps onto a football pitch.

Ibrahimovic, preparing for Manchester United's opening Premier League game at Bournemouth on Sunday, said he was a "family guy" rather than a "bad boy."

The former Sweden captain, who scored United's Community Shield winner against Leicester last weekend, said: "I'm a normal person.

"People have the image of me that I'm a bad boy, I'm this and I'm that. People are curious: 'How is this Zlatan?'

"I'm a family guy. I'm taking care of my family but, when I come on the pitch, I'm a lion. That's the big difference.

"I don't believe I'm arrogant in the way that people think. I'm confident. I believe in myself.

"That's not being arrogant. That's something I believe is an individual strength in the human being."

The 34-year-old, who joined United earlier this summer after his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired, said he had "a vision" and worked hard for it.