MANCHESTER UNITED have made a shock swoop for Henrik Larsson.
The ex-Celtic ace is joining United on a three-month loan in January. Helsinborgs striker Larsson will sign from New Year's Day until March 12 before the Swedish season kicks off.
Larsson said: “Alex Ferguson called me last night and greeted me to Manchester United. “They have been after me before - after the first or second season with Celtic. It feels nice to come and play for such a big club.
“I probably won’t play every match from the start, but for me it feels like a very fun thing to contribute at such a late stage in my career. My family are okay with it.
“I know the players at Manchester United. They are really good players. “I have played against many of them, so it’s not a new thing. I hope the situation will be easier, knowing the faces and names.
“I will go over there to play as much as possible - but I have no idea of how Ferguson wants to use me. We will see how much playing time there will be.
“Am I a back-up? Yes, at the beginning. Then you will see what I can contribute and how things are going.”
United are short on strikers and Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha are the only recognised forwards available to boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is out injured, Alan Smith is finding his fitness and young Italian Giuseppe Rossi is on loan at Newcastle.
Larsson, 35, turned down a contract extension with Champions League winners Barcelona last season to move back to Sweden to finish his career.
He was one of Europe's most prolific scorers at Celtic, where he netted 174 goals in 221 games in between 1997 and 2004.
He scored 36 goals in 93 international matches before retiring from the national team after the World Cup this summer.
