Ibrahimovic reveals why it was time to move on from Old Trafford
ZLATAN Ibrahimovic had to leave United in order to feel comfortable again following his knee injury.
The Swede left Old Trafford for LA Galaxy earlier this year having recovered from an ACL injury he sustained in the Europa League, but admitted he found it hard when he became injured.
United decided to hand him a new deal at the beginning of the 2017/18 season, despite the fact he had not fully recovered from his injury. But the 37-year-old made the decision to terminate his contract in March 2018 and went to the MLS.
And the former Sweden international has now revealed why he decided to call it quits at Old Trafford.
“This was a new challenge for me and I said I would come back when I was ready and I would play exactly as I did before. When I cannot do that I will not continue in football because I’m not here for charity,” the striker said.
“After my injury, when I was selected, I said to Jose Mourinho, ‘I do not want to disappoint you or my teammates. You had a Zlatan before the injury and you had one after the injury, and I cannot give you the Zlatan that you are used to, that’s why I will not give you this Zlatan because I’m not ready.’
“My second year at United, I was not feeling ready, I was feeling different, it was like I was starting at zero and I had to teach my knee how to play football again. After a while my confidence grew, I needed a new environment to feel that I was comfortable.”