UNITED SPECIAL Zlatan says he will be in training soon
UNITED striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is confident he will return to training in ‘a few weeks’ and refused to clarify his future.
Ibrahimovic arrived at the Friends Arena for the Europa League final on a golf buggy as he continues to recover from the cruciate ligament injury which ended his season prematurely.
The 35-year-old has entered the last two months of his United contract and it is believed Ibrahimovic rejected the offer of an extension out of pride.
However, Ibrahimovic’s upbeat update on his rehabilitation was accompanied by a cryptic reply when asked where he will prolong his career.
“In a few weeks I’ll be back in the field,” he told Sky Italia. “Where? Let’s see.”
Ibrahimovic uploaded images of himself with the three trophies United collected during the season with the caption ‘3 out of 5. Another great season. Hard work pays off.’
United manager Jose Mourinho was asked about Ibrahimovic’s future after United beat Ajax on Wednesday but preferred to celebrate the Swede’s first European triumph.
“I think it’s so unfair what happened to him,” Mourinho said of Ibrahimovic’s lay-off. “Sometimes football is unfair, sometimes life is unfair, I think it’s so unfair. This night would be an amazing night if he was on the pitch, in his hometown, in the stadium where his statue will be, his first club when he left Sweden, his actual club in Manchester United, a season where he made an amazing impact.
“I’m really, really, really sorry Zlatan has not played this final.
“But he played. He played outside with crutches with the other guys, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Eric Bailly, they were playing behind the bench shouting, they were doing everything.
“And on top of it, Zlatan in Swedish told the ball boys in the second-half to take it easy, so even outside he was playing for us.
“So, I am so pleased he finally gets a European trophy.”
Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals in 46 appearances, netting United’s Community Shield and EFL Cup winners before he suffered a knee injury in the Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht last month.
It had been feared initially that the striker’s career was over following the injury but his surgeon Dr Freddie Fu has said he will be able to play on ‘for many years’.
He said: “I can’t discuss too many details, I don’t want to get in trouble with Manchester United.
“But I can tell you he’s in superb shape in all things.
“Healthy morphology, the quality of the bone and muscle, everything is as good as you can possibly see.
“He’s one of the top athletes I’ve ever touched, he is in superb shape.” UNITED manager Jose Mourinho has prioritised four key signings in the summer transfer window.
M.E.N. Sport understands Mourinho’s recruitment strategy could be identical to last year, with United intent on signing a centre-back, a central midfielder, a winger capable of playing on both flanks and a forward during what the club expects will be a ‘crazy’ summer.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo’s longterm injuries have intensified the need to reinforce up front and in defence while Mourinho is expected to address the midfield after letting Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger leave earlier this year.
United earmarked Antoine Griezmann as the forward to sharpen their attack nearly a year ago and the 26-year-old admitted earlier this week there was a 60 per cent chance he could join United.
Griezmann has an £85m release clause in his Atletico contract and United are believed to have no issue with triggering it.
France international Griezmann indicated he would resolve his future within the next fortnight while United could complement the forward with a striker. United are keen on Andrea Belotti and have touched base with Real Madrid reserve Alvaro Morata’s representatives.
Mourinho compiled two transfer lists in the event United failed to qualify for the Champions League and their Europa League triumph should assuage other targets.
Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, 22, is understood to be interested in joining United and is insistent on moving to a club that offers Champions League football.
United’s admiration for Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic dates back to David Moyes’ time