A short time ago, it became clear that Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 39, will return to the Swedish national team.

When national team captain Janne Andersson presented the squad, the striker wrote "God's return" on Instagram.

Today he did his first press conference with Blågult.

- It came when Janne gave me the Gold Ball, so I felt I had to help him.

He did me a favor, so I want to give something back, says Zlatan and laughs.

"I need more time"

He was asked when the urge to play for the national team came back.

- After the injury at United, I told Mourinho that I was not ready, "you will not see the Zlatan you saw before, I need more time".

Galaxy appeared and I felt I needed to start over from scratch, says Zlatan.

It was a new knee and he felt he had to learn to walk, jog and run with his knee.

- I got two years in the Los Angeles Galaxy and still felt alive.

Should I quit or should I continue?

Then someone said it was too cowardly to quit in the US, it's too easy.

My agent Mino Raiola said you have to return to Europe and then you can stop there.

Then I said "okay, who needs me best?".

Because I like big challenges.

Then he said Milan, and I said call.

Now I am in Milan and I feel that I am at a high level and can perform at the level that I can be part of the national team.

But then it's not just what I want.

I said to Janne, "if you want, I want too".

I respect if he does not want to, it is not personal, says Zlatan.

"What drives me"

He says he is motivated by people talking about his age.

- That's what drives me.

It is not normal for things to go so well and perform so well.

It is not normal to play in a club like Milan and make so many matches.

It's a challenge for me.

When Zlatan left the national team after the European Championships in 2016, he never believed in a comeback five years later.

- I had said that it was impossible.

I would probably have said that I might not play in five years.

During my time at United, my thoughts went, I have always thought that I will finish at the top.

But an injury should not stop me from doing what I like best.

I'll decide if I should quit.

I feel that I am on top, otherwise I would not have been here, says Zlatan.