Zlatan Ibrahimovic to train with new Man United team-mates for first time: Debut Saturday

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC will train with his new Manchester United team-mates for the first time on Friday ahead of his expected debut in his native Sweden at the weekend.

Zlatan IbrahimovicGETTY

Zlatan Ibrahimovic joined Manchester United on a free transfer

Jose Mourinho left the 34-year-old striker, who joined United on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, out of his tour squad to China give him an extended break after the Euros.

But Ibrahimovic worked on his fitness during his holiday in the USA and for the past three days has been following a conditioning programme tailored for him by Mourinho and his fitness coaches.

He has not kicked a ball since Sweden's exit from the Euros on June 22 but Mourinho trusts him to be in good enough shape to play some part of the friendly against Galatasaray in Gothenburg on Saturday.

"The best suits are suits by measure," said Mourinho. "You go for a size that fits you. Same for players. No two players are the same.

"The decision on Zlatan is the consequence of many hours of study. He was out [of the Euros] one match before the English guys. The body and mind is different.

"Players prepare in a different way. We're trying to do suits by measure and to be perfect for the person."

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Anthony Martial, Morgan Schneiderlin and Marouane Fellaini - who all reached the later stages of the Euros - will also return for pre-season tomorrow to give Mourinho a full complement of players.

United skipper Wayne Rooney is relishing the prospect of linking up with Ibrahimovic, with Mourinho looking to pair the two in attack, with the England skipper playing just off the former Sweden captain in the No 10 role and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford in the wide positions.

"I'm looking forward to it," said Rooney. "I think he's been one of the best strikers in world football over the last 10 years and he's always won trophies everywhere he has been.

"He's a huge character so I'm looking forward to getting back, training with him and hopefully forming a good partnership and being successful together."

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