Zlatan Ibrahimovic to miss the rest of the season
Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has suffered serious ligament damage in his right knee and will likely be sidelined for the rest of the season.
The 35-year-old underwent scans in Manchester today after sustaining the injury during United’s Europa League quarterfinal victory against Anderlecht at Old Trafford on Thursday. The initial fears of manager Jose Mourinho and the club’s medical staff have been confirmed.
It has been reported that the Swedish striker has suffered damage to his cruciate ligament.
The prognosis for Ibrahimovic, who has scored 28 goals in 46 appearances for United since arriving on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, is surgery followed by a programme of rehabilitation. However, Ibrahimovic is not expected to return to action this year.
The injury has placed doubt over his club future as his contract at United is due to expire at the end of this season.
Mourinho has said that Ibrahimovic has passed all of his performance-related criteria to trigger a one-year option in his contract, but the forward has so far not committed to a new deal at the club. Ibrahimovic has previously played for Juventus, Ajax, Inter Milan, PSG and Barcelona.
There is now serious doubt if United will give Ibrahimovic the extended contract after his injury.
Ibrahimovic has attracted interest from MLS clubs LA Galaxy and LA FC but his spell on the sidelines will certainly cast doubt over a potential move to the United States.
