The future of Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains uncertain with a move to Major League Soccer potentially in the cards. Ibrahimovic has been consistently linked with a move to L.A. Galaxy while he continues his rehabilitation at United’s training facilities. The L.A. Galaxy’s signing of Villarreal’s Jonathan dos Santos this week likely rules them out now as a landing spot for Ibrahimovic.
Zlatan led United in scoring by a very large margin last season, but tore up his knee towards the end of the UEFA Europa League competition. He is expected to return late this calendar year or perhaps in early 2018, but word is that he’s ahead of schedule with his rehab.
When he’s fully convalesced, a place might be waiting for him at Old Trafford. United Manager Jose Mourinho made comments yesterday seemingly implying an opportunity for the Swede. Mourinho discussed the need to go out and get Romelu Lukaku (who shares the same agent, Mino Raiola, as Ibrahimovic) for £75 million, and in doing so may have dropped a hint about where Ibrahimovic could be come the second half of the 2017-18 season.
“We spent big money on a striker because, with strikers, you either spend or you don’t get,” Mourinho told a group of assembled media.
“And we spent because of what happened to Zlatan and we can not allow ourselves to be without an important, strong striker for the first six months of the season.”
The phrase “first six months of the season” is key there, as it comes close to matching up with the time table for an Ibrahimovic return.
Additionally, comments made by Paul Pogba, another Raiola client, add further fuel to the Zlatan Ibrahimovic is returning to United speculation fire. Pogba maintains that the Swedish striker remains a leadership figure at the club.
“Obviously Zlatan is a leader, always a big leader,” United midfielder Pogba said prior to his club’s meeting with Barcelona in D.C.
“And he’s still a big leader because he’s still in the team, even when he’s not playing he’s a leader outside of the pitch. I’ve been playing for one season, I came here to hopefully be a leader as well in the team. That’s not like the objective, but that’s how you should be.”
“I’ve been here, we won and we want to grow up as a player and a leader as well. I can learn from him, from Carras (Michael Carrick), from all the players and become a leader.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
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