Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes this season will be the season of Henrikh Mkhitaryan "because he has opened fantastic," the the Sweden international said in an intervoew with ESPN.

"I think people underestimate him because he doesn't have the name like the other ones in the world," Ibrahimovic said of Mkhitaryan.

"This may be because he comes from a small country like he comes from [Armenia] but this year he will get the credit he deserves and show the quality that he is, my bet is on Mkhitaryan. Or if he don't provide me [goals] he will not play... I am joking!"

Ibrahimovic rejoined Manchester United on a one-year deal on Thursday, August 24 in typical Zlatan fashion.

The 28-year-old Armenia international initially struggled for form and fitness for United following his switch from Borussia Dortmund but, after bagging 11 goals and five assists in 41 appearances last season, has already weighed in with four assists in just two games so far in 2017/18.