Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed he was Jesus to inspire PSG to Ligue 1 title, claims Marco Verratti

Paris Saint-Germain team-mate claims striker told Carlo Ancelotti

(Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has claimed that supremely confident team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic compared himself to Jesus to former manager Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian manager was in charge at the Ligue 1 club in 2012-13, eventually leading them to the title before moving to Real Madrid at the beginning of last season.

Verratti has revealed that the Swedish striker - who was recently infuriated when he learnt he was only the nation's second-greatest sportsman - told Ancelotti by comparing himself to the Christian Messiah.

"Before winning the 2012/13 league title, we were getting ready to play against Lyon," Verratti told FourFourTwo magazine.

"Carlo Ancelotti was a bit tense, so Ibra approached him and asked him if he believed in Jesus. Ancelotti said yes, so Ibra told him: 'Good, so you believe in me. You can relax!'

"Zlatan is like this – he has a lot of self-confidence. This helps him to be a great player."

He added: "We are starting to get used to the amazing goals he scores. Some of the plays you see him do during a match – they don't just happen. He works on everything in training.

Verratti celebrates a goal with the striker (Getty Images)

"He has a co-ordination and creativity that very few players have. Even Ibra has got us used to his amazing goals!"

Verratti and Ibrahimovic will face Chelsea in the last-16 of the Champions League on 17 February and 11 March.