Zlatan’s contract to be extended
MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho is looking forward to working with Zlatan Ibrahimovic again next season after declaring the striker’s contract extension will be a formality.
Ibrahimovic, 35, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in July on a one-year deal with an option for a further year, which Mourinho last month indicated United would look to take up.
After Ibrahimovic scored once and made two goals in United’s 3-1 Boxing Day win over Sunderland, Mourinho said the clause had not yet been activated, but would be.
“It is activated in his brain and it is activated also in my decisions and in the owners’ and the board’s,” the manager said.
“He decided to come to Manchester United and to the Premier League – in the most difficult league in the world for a striker. When he decides to come here, it is because he knows he can do it.
“When we contacted him and he said, yes, he will come, I was sure he was not coming here to leave the Premier League without proving himself.
“To leave the Premier League having failed at Manchester United? No way.
“When such a guy decided to come, I was completely clear that he would be ready and he is ready for more next season. He will be here again.” United secured a fourth successive Premier League win, and extended their unbeaten record in all competitions to 11 matches, in the absence of captain Wayne Rooney.
The United captain was withdrawn from the squad after suffering a thigh muscle injury in training. – AFP