Zlatan: I still get fired up by facing Guardiola

The Swedish striker played under Guardiola at Barcelona during the 2009-10 season, but the pair’s relationship deteriorated, culminating in a public fall-out, and Ibrahimovic moved to AC Milan after just one year in Catalonia.

They now find themselves in the Premier League; Guardiola at Manchester City and Ibrahimovic at Manchester United, working under Jose Mourinho – a coach he has formed a much better relationship with.

And the Old Trafford pair are united in their issues with Guardiola.

"When I play against his team, it's something that motivates me, it gives me adrenaline," Ibrahimovic told Fox Sports Italia. "It is normal, after what's happened.

"I'm using it as something positive, not negative. But it is something always in the back of my mind."

Ibrahimovic’s time at Barcelona wasn’t a total disaster as he won the Liga title under Guardiola, scoring 16 league goals. But their relationship soon declined and the Swede still claims to be unsure why.

"I learned a lot at Barcelona, both on and off the pitch. I learned that in football any situation can change in just 24 hours," he added.

"The problem wasn't with me, it was with him [Guardiola], and he never came to terms with it. I don't know what his problem was with me.

"First he called me every day to get me and from one day to the next I didn't play anymore."

However, the 35-year-old has suggested that the feud is no longer as strong as it once was.

"It is the past and I am someone who looks to the future, and the future is in front of me."