Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti has compared Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo for the way in which they put their ego to use for the good of their teams.
Ancelotti has dealt with many of Europe's top stars over his career, managing Ibrahimovic for two years at Paris Saint-Germain, coaching both Ronaldo and Gareth Bale at Madrid from 2013 to 2015, and also having spells in charge of expensively assembled squads at Chelsea, AC Milan and Juventus.
Ibrahimovic, 35, has already made an impact at his new club Manchester United this summer, but there are concerns that he might find the move from PSG to the more competitive Premier League a big ask.
The Italian said in an interview with FourFourTwo that he enjoyed Ibrahimovic's larger than life personality especially as, similar to Ronaldo, it was always about being fully professional and focused on collective goals.
"Ibra is really funny, but he is also extremely professional," Ancelotti said. "A manager wants that ego in a player. Ibra uses his ego for good: he has individual talent, but he plays for the team. Cristiano Ronaldo is just the same."
Ancelotti said he did not find it difficult to manage big-name players like Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic, adding that he used humour at times to build his relationships.
"[Ronaldo] is a really easy player to train, because as a professional you don't have to tell him anything," he said. "He knows clearly what he must do to be ready for games and for training.
"As a manager, I was very lucky to have a player like him because he scored 50 goals per season. He wants to be at the top; he wants to be the very best. I think the fact that there is a real competition with [Lionel] Messi helps each of them to be even better.
"It is very difficult to say who is best, though, because along with Zlatan they can all win football matches on their own. I remember that I liked to joke with Ronaldo. I once told him that he was on the bench for a big game. I said: 'Our game is at 4 p.m., but you will rest tomorrow.' He looked at me in complete shock. Then I told him I was only joking."
The former Italy midfielder added that there were times when he lost his temper, recalling an embarrassing Coupe de France exit with PSG which saw him kick a box at Ibrahimovic's head.
Ancelotti was also asked about the time Gareth Bale's agent, Jonathan Barnett, claimed late in the 2014-15 season that his client was not being passed the ball by his teammates.
"Yes, I was [disappointed]," Ancelotti said. "Because I don't speak to the agent normally but if the player is not happy then they have to speak to me, the manager. Usually when a player is not happy they come and speak to me. This should be the normal way."