My girlfriend of 20 years rejected my marriage proposal – Ibrahimovic

Former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has explained why him and his girlfriend are not married, despite being together for over 20 years.

In an interview with Piers Morgan in the 'Piers Morgan Uncensored' series on TalkTV, Ibrahimovic said he had a while back proposed to the girlfriend but she turned down the offer.

"I said, after 20 years, you deserve to be married with me. She said, 'No, I don't need to be married with you, to be with you'. She is strong, very strong," the 42-year-old former Swedish international said.

Ibrahimovic added that in his opinion, he thinks the proposal turned down was 'cool' as he doesn't have to win all the time.

"I think it's cool because if you do that, you gain more respect from me, because I don't have to win all the time," the former PSG, AC Millan and Inter Milan attacker said.

The burley forward also turned out for Barcelona and boasts of more than 500 club goals in total.

Ibrahimovic, who remains Sweden's all-time top scorer with 62 goals, noted that he wouldn't propose to his girlfriend again.

"No. She had one chance, she will not get a second chance. But she has two boys from me, so that's even bigger than being married," he said.

According to Sports Bible, the two met in 2002 at a parking lot, and in previous interviews, Helena, the girlfriend of the star said getting married would disturb her sense of independence.

"I don't want to be labelled simply as the wife of a player, or the winner of a beauty contest. I think people don't know how much I have studied, worked and fought," she said.