Transfer Centre

Jose Mourinho willing to let striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic leave

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 29 January 2018

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says that he will not stand in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's way should the Swedish striker ask to leave Old Trafford.

Jose Mourinho has suggested that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be granted the chance to leave Manchester United should any formal approach be made.

The 36-year-old has been tipped to depart Old Trafford and see out the final stages of his playing career in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy.

Ibrahimovic has barely featured for the Red Devils this term, being used seven times in all competitions between prolonged spells of the sidelines through injury.

Alexis Sanchez's arrival from Arsenal last week has pushed the Swedish striker further down the pecking order, meanwhile, and Mourinho will not stand in his way should he ask to leave.

"He told me nothing about [the Galaxy interest]. The first time I read or heard something about that was from the media," he told reporters at Monday afternoon's press conference. "He never mentioned that to me so I don't know.

"Zlatan is in the last year of his contract. If that is true and Zlatan wants a future in another club in another country we are here to help and to create conditions for that to happen, not to make his life difficult.

"The last thing that Zlatan told me was that he wants to recover totally and feel ready to help the team. He is working hard to be fit. He is not injured, he is in a moment of trying to feel really ready for the demands of Premier League football."

Ibrahimovic, who has one goal to his name in 2017-18, is expected to be available for selection in the next week.