Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a new one year contract with Manchester United and will wear the number 10 shirt which was recently vacated by Wayne Rooney who returned to Everton in the summer.
He's not finished yet – @Ibra_official has signed a new one-year contract with #MUFC! https://t.co/ATiksSrLDT pic.twitter.com/PDh9fDEgrg
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 24, 2017
Ibrahimovic is still recuperating from the knee injury that ended his season in April this year after scoring 28 goals from 46 appearances during the 2016/17 season.
He limped off at the end of United’s Europa League quarter final second leg against Anderlecht with what turned out to be serious knee ligament damage.
The injury prevented him from an emotional final appearance for United in Stockholm’s Friends Arena as they lifted the Europa League after beating Ajax in the final and it seemed like his United career would be over after he wasn’t expected to recover entirely until the new year.
Pictures had emerged of Ibrahimovic ahead of schedule in his recovery regime and there seemed to be talk of bringing the Swede back to Old Trafford even though he would not be able to play for months to come.
Mourinho signed a direct replacement in Romelu Lukaku and made noises about bringing in a fourth player this summer after the earlier signings of Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof.
Mourinho said: “We are delighted Zlatan is on the road to recovery and we are equally delighted to have his ambition and experience back with us.
“After his contribution last season he deserves our trust and we will be patient waiting for him to return.
“I have no doubt that he will be important in the second part of the season.”
Speaking about his new deal, Ibrahimovic said: “I am back to finish what I started. It was always mine and the club’s intention for me to stay.
“I cannot wait to get back out on that Old Trafford pitch, but I also know that I have to take my time to make sure that I am ready.
“I have been working hard and will continue to do so to make sure I am in the best possible condition for my return to the pitch.”
Ibrahimovic may not be able to play for United for a while but there have been reports that he could be back sooner than initially expected.