Zlatan will miss United clash ... but he’s fit for festival

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has been ruled out of a return to Old Trafford with AC Milan next week by injury — but he is fit enough to be a guest star on Italy’s biggest song contest. The 39-year-old Swede was set to face Manchester United for the first time since leaving three years ago after Milan drew his old club in the last 16 of the Europa League. However, Ibrahimovic suffered a thigh injury in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Roma in Serie A and limped off after 56 minutes. He will be assessed again on March 11 — the day of the first leg against United at Old Trafford — and is now battling to be available for the return leg at the San Siro a week later. The injury has solved a rather awkward problem for Ibrahimovic and Milan after it emerged that he had signed up to appear at the Sanremo Music Festival on the Italian Riviera, which gets under way today and runs until Saturday. It is understood the striker and his agent Mino Raiola negotiated the agreement into the contract extension he signed with Milan in August. Ibrahimovic (right) was set to train on his own in Sanremo this week around Milan’s games against Udinese tomorrow and Verona on Sunday, before taking part in preparations for the first leg against United a week on Thursday. The issue has embarrassed Milan, but Ibrahimovic’s enforced lay-off means he is now free to spend the week at Sanremo. It is unclear what he is doing at the festival, although Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has fuelled rumours that the two friends will perform a duet.