Los Angeles: Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be given the chance to resurrect his Manchester United career as he battles back from a serious knee injury, manager Jose Mourinho confirmed.
Swedish star Ibrahimovic was United’s top-scorer last season, bagging 28 goals in all competitions.
However, the 35-year-old’s future was cast into doubt after he suffered a double cruciate ligament injury in April, cutting short a successful first season.
The injury prompted United to shelve plans to exercise an option to give Zlatan a second season with the club, with the player officially released last month.
However, the Swede has impressed United with the pace of his recovery and the striker has been allowed to use the club’s facilities to help his rehabilitation.
Mourinho, speaking ahead of United’s opening US tour game against Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, said Ibrahimovic could yet return the club next season.
“It’s possible, it’s open,” Mourinho said.
Although Ibrahimovic had been linked to a move to Major League Soccer, Mourinho said the forward had indicated he wanted to continue to play at “the highest level.”
“From his point of view, he made the decision of wanting to play football still at the highest level,” Mourinho said.
“He didn’t want to hide behind such an amazing injury. It would be easy to hide behind it and stop and go to a different level of football.
“He did not want that, he was not happy with his finish (to the season) and not playing. He made the challenge for himself to keep playing at the highest level.
“So we open our door for him to recover with us, at Old Trafford, at Carrington.”
Mourinho indicated a decision on a new contract for Ibrahimovic would likely be taken closer to him regaining full fitness. Recovery from Ibrahimovic’s injury is typically between nine to 12 months.
“Let’s make a decision that makes us all happy and if that is for him to stay, and for us to wait, let’s say in December — because I don’t think before December he can get back to competitive football — but why not wait for a player who gave us so much?” Mourinho said.
“We are changing ideas and it’s with (United executive vice-chairman) Ed Woodward and Zlatan’s agent but the final decision is the best for the player.”
Taking Ibra’s No. 9 shirt at United is Romelu Lukaku and Mourinho said the new signing will be expected to deliver goals.
Lukaku completed his 75 million-pound (Dh360.7 million) transfer to Old Trafford on Monday.
Asked what he expected Lukaku to bring to United, Mourinho replied: “What will he bring us? Hopefully goals.”
Lukaku’s signing gives United an authentic target man, the sort of out-and-out striker Mourinho believed the squad lacked last term.
“(Lukaku)’s the kind of player that everybody knows that he’s a striker,” Mourinho said. “We are not speaking about a multifunctional player or a player that you can adapt, or we can create doubts about positions on the pitch. He’s a striker.
“So normally strikers they score goals and the reason he’s so important and he was difficult to get is exactly what he did in the Premier League.”
‘The right moment’
Mourinho said Lukaku had been targeted because of his proven track record of scoring in the Premier League during spells with Everton and West Bromwich Albion.
“Obviously there are other good strikers in football but the Premier League is a very specific habitat and a difficult habitat for strikers,” Mourinho said.
“Normally they need some time to adapt. And Lukaku plays in the Premier League for the last four or five seasons. I think he comes at the right moment of his career because he’s still a young player but he has years of experience in the Premier League also with the Belgian national team.”
Mourinho agreed that he hoped Lukaku would help the team turn draws into wins.
“Let’s try,” he said. “He’s not a player that participates a lot in the build up. He’s a player that normally plays in the last third.
“We had many opponents especially at Old Trafford that decided clearly to defend in their defensive third, closing spaces, playing with lots of defensive midfield players.
“I think especially in the Premier League we need a target man which is not (Anthony) Martial or (Marcus) Rashford. We have good options. Good players.
“But target man, a clear No. 9, the one that is comfortable to play in the box, with his back to the defensive line? We thought Romelu would be a very good option for us.”
