Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will sign a short term contract with Manchester United once he returns from injury in the new year.
The Swede arrived at Old Trafford last summer on a free transfer and, despite being written off by most for his age and lack of speed, went on to take the Premier League by storm, claiming 28 goals in all competitions – including a dramatic late winner in the League Cup final. His season was criminally cut short, however, by an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in April against Anderlecht and the striker, in turn, was duly released from the club’s books in June once his contract expired.
Rumours of a potential short term deal for Zlatan upon his return have circulated from the moment he was officially released by the club but his future has continued to be up in the air. Both LA Galaxy and AC Milan have expressed a desire to secure his services from January onwards – although he has, in true Zlatan style, insisted that a return by November is possible.
But Mourinho, speaking at a press conference on Friday, has confirmed that talks are underway with Zlatan over handing him a term deal at Old Trafford once he makes a full recovery.
“He’s injured and he needs time to recover,” he said. “He’s not ready to play tomorrow, he’s not something urgent, he’s not something you are desperate to have it done, or not done.
“I just think he was very clear by showing what he did last year was not enough for him. He thinks he can do more, he wants more at football’s highest level, so we are having conversations and we are discussing the possibility of him staying with us for the second part of the season.”
