Zlatan Ibrahimovic claims to be wanted back at Paris Saint-Germain, but the LA Galaxy striker says he will only return to the Ligue 1 champions “to be the boss”.
At 37 years of age, the enigmatic Swede is approaching the end of his playing career.
He is, however, prepared to delay retirement plans for the foreseeable future, with his efforts in MLS – which have delivered 22 goals in 2018 – proving that he still has plenty to offer.
There will come a time when he is ready to take on a new challenge, but he has pointed out that he would only head back to France if he was offered the chance to take the managerial reins.
Ibrahimovic, who netted 156 times for PSG between 2012 and 2016, told L’Equipe: “At PSG, they want me to work for the club.
“If I come back to PSG, it's to be the boss. I cannot come for anything else. The only way to make me come, that will be it.
“There are no other possible positions for me. But it's not for now, I'm an active player and I still want to play. When I choose what I want to do, I will inform the world.”
For now, Ibrahimovic needs to make a decision on where his playing future lies.
He has sought to rule out the possibility of making a loan move away from the Galaxy in January, with there a desire on his part to talk fresh terms in America rather than head back to Europe.
That has calmed talk of a potential third deal with Manchester United, while the former AC Milan forward has reiterated that he is unlikely to make his way back to San Siro.
Ibrahimovic said of that speculation, with former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also being linked with the Rossoneri as Gennaro Gattuso fights for his job: “I think it's more likely that I come back to Milan than Wenger goes.
“I do not think he wants to go to Italy and face this challenge. Milan, it's not an easy challenge.
“I do not know what I'm going to do. I know that many European clubs are interested, but I am happy here, I love my life, my family too. And I need a challenge, a reason to keep playing.
“I do not want to come to a club just because I'm Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I want to arrive and make a difference. That's what I've always done, everywhere.”