The 48-year-old Swedish striker thinks the club is suffering partly from being obsessed with its past.

He said, “You have to think about the present or you should go to a hospital and clean your head.”

Zlatan has scored five goals in just seven Serie A games this season, remaining strong for club and country at the age of 40.

But all this seemed very unlikely when the Swede international left Old Trafford in March 2018 after just one goal in seven games.

He moved to MLS with LA Galaxy where it seemed he was likely to see out his days as a professional footballer, but has defied the odds to return to Europe and remain a potent force in front of goal.

Ibrahimovic is an incredible example of living in the present and that is what he feels the Red Devils have failed to do, saying that he could see the problem when he was at the club.

Asked about United’s current problems, Zlatan told The Guardian, “They talk too much about the past.

“When I went there I said: ‘I’m here to focus on the present and to make my own story.’ But when you have too much it becomes like a loop.

“You have to think about the present or you should go to a hospital and clean your head.”

Manchester United might just want to heed Ibrahimovic’s warning today as they file out against a stubborn Villarreal side in the Champions League in Spain.

The Red Devils had on Saturday sacked their manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over recent run of poor results. Former assistant coach, Michael Carrick is currently in charge on a care-taker basis.