Schalke's Benjamin Stambouli has told Goal that Zlatan Ibrahimovic joked he was "God" and not "the king" when the pair were both at Paris Saint-Germain.
Stambouli left the Ligue 1 champions shortly after Ibrahimovic departed for Manchester United on a free transfer last summer, having played a full season alongside the striker.
"We were with the physiotherapists, getting a massage and the television was on," Stambouli said. "Zlatan was injured at the time but he intended to play the next match.
"Suddenly, the title 'Zlatan, Return of the King' appeared on the screen. He asked me to translate it for him. I am sure he knew what it meant. Anyway, I translated the sentence and he said, 'Benji, what, is that it? I am not the king. I am God!'
"We both laughed about it. It is a little game he plays with his teammates and everybody. Even when you know him well, though, he still keeps a little part of him a mystery."
Stambouli further praised his former teammate, lauding his intelligence on and off the pitch -- as well as his self-confidence.
"Zlatan is very intelligent. You can see as much when you watch him play on television," Stambouli said. "Privately, he is even more so. He quickly identifies well with people. He is extremely charismatic and very dominant at the same time.
"Despite that, he mocks himself. He laughs at his own reputation. He is also somebody who has a lot of confidence in himself."