Only Ibrahimovic will decide on his United future
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to action when he feels the time is right, even though this is likely to be his final season at Manchester United.
The Swedish striker signed a contract extension in the summer and, although initially returning from a knee operation in November, he has been sidelined since the Boxing Day draw with Burnley at Old Trafford.
After taking part in the open training session before the UEFA Champions League trip to Sevilla, the centre-forward may not be far away from fitness but manager Jose Mourinho confirmed at his press conference, ahead of Monday's Crystal Palace game, that the key decision rests with the player.
After taking part in the open training session before the UEFA Champions League trip to Sevilla, the centre-forward may not be far away from fitness but manager Jose Mourinho confirmed at his press conference, ahead of Monday's Crystal Palace game, that the key decision rests with the player.
"For Zlatan, we all think it's his last season at Manchester United and it will be a very personal decision for him to play or to stop," said Mourinho. "I think he won the right of choosing his life and his future - he's such an amazing player with such an amazing career that only that awful injury in the wrong moment broke a fantastic couple of seasons that he could, and should, have with us.
"This season has been really difficult for him. Is he injured? No, he's not injured. Does he feel totally happy and totally ready and totally convinced that he's in [the] conditions to help the team in this moment? No.
"But he's such an honest guy and such a champion that he only wants to be back with that feeling of 'I'm totally ready for it'. He's working hard and, hopefully, his evolution brings him to that level that he wants to have a positive answer."
"This season has been really difficult for him. Is he injured? No, he's not injured. Does he feel totally happy and totally ready and totally convinced that he's in [the] conditions to help the team in this moment? No.
"But he's such an honest guy and such a champion that he only wants to be back with that feeling of 'I'm totally ready for it'. He's working hard and, hopefully, his evolution brings him to that level that he wants to have a positive answer."
Ibrahimovic hinted this week he may consider coming out of international retirement to represent Sweden at the World Cup, but he has unfinished business with United before the summer's big event.
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