Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Manchester United return being discussed, confirms Jose Mourinho

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic has been given the use of United’s Carrington training facilities to help aid his rehabilitation Credit: Getty Images

Jose Mourinho has confirmed Manchester United are in talks to re-sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the second half of the new season.

Ibrahimovic was not offered a new contract by United at the end of last season after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in April that is likely to rule him out of action until Christmas.

But Mourinho believes the Swedish striker – who scored 28 goals for United but being struck down by injury - still has unfinished business in the Premier League as he bids to bring the player back at Old Trafford, despite interest from AC Milan in Italy.

Ibrahimovic has been given the use of United’s Carrington training facilities to help aid his rehabilitation and Mourinho has now confirmed the club are in discussions to re-sign the 35-year-old after admitting previously that the door was open to a return.

“He is injured and he needs time to recover,’ said Mourinho. “He is not ready to play tomorrow. It’s not something that’s urgent, it’s not desperate to have it done or not.

“It was very clear by showing what he did last year was not enough for him. He wants more football at the highest level so we are having conversations and discussing the possibility of him staying for the second part of the season.”

The return of Ibrahimovic in mid-season would boost United’s attacking options at a time when the club are struggling to add the fourth signing Mourinho craves before the close of the transfer window on Aug. 31.

United have spent £146 million on Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof but Mourinho still wants a wide player. He would ideally like to sign Gareth Bale but any hopes of acquiring the Wales forward appears to hinge on Real Madrid buying Kylian Mbappe while United have balked at Inter Milan’s £49 million asking price for Ivan Perisic. Full-backs Danny Rose and Serge Aurier have also been linked with United.

 Serge Aurier is being linked to Manchester United
 Serge Aurier is being linked to Manchester United Credit: Getty Images

But Mourinho says he will not “moan or cry” if United fail to add a fourth signing. “I understand the reality of the market, of the numbers and that my club, by doing 75 per cent of what I initially asked, did very well,” he said.

“I don’t think I am in a position of moaning, crying, contesting or to say I am not happy with it. I am happy with the effort the club did and that the club managed to do 75 per cent of the work before the Premier League starts.

“Until August 31, if the remaining 25 per cent doesn’t arrive, I will not moan. I will just go with everything I have to try to win every match we play.

"My initial analysis from January and progressing through other months I was thinking of four players but I am not a difficult person to work with, even if looks different or you want to make it look so.

"Twenty-five per cent means one of four. We got a central defender who can play many other positions which is very important. Victor can play right-back and centre midfield.

"We have a central midfield and striker, so obviously another player would be one coming from the sides. But we have players and if we cannot strengthen then we have people we trust.

“We added three players: one defender, one midfielder and one attacker. But for the beginning of the season, we lost some important ones too: [Marcos] Rojo, [Ashley] Young, [Luke] Shaw, Zlatan, players with injuries.

"So between what we have lost and what we have got, we’re in a similar situation. We have more experience of working together with a much better pre-season than last season with confidence levels of a team that won a European competition.

"We are back in the Champions League so the motivation and confidence levels are higher, and the knowledge between ourselves is higher.

“The Premier League is what you all know. I’d say seven teams to fight for the title and 20 to fight for the victory every game, every match. That’s the difference from the three other leagues I have worked in. Every opponent wants to win every match. Every opponent gives you a hard time.”

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