Manchester United to cover Ibrahimovic’s rehabilitation

Manchester United plan to stick by Zlatan Ibrahimovic through his potentially career-ending knee injury but will withdraw their contract extension offer, reports The Daily Mirror.

Ibrahimovic is expected to be sidelined until 2018 and could now even retire after rupturing knee ligaments in the dying embers of normal time against Anderlecht on Thursday evening in the Europa League.

The 35-year-old’s current United deal is due to expire at the end of the season and the former Sweden international had been hesitant in accepting United’s offer of an extension for the next campaign.

Jose Mourinho’s side had been desperate to extend Ibrahimovic’s stay prior to injury but the striker’s reluctance to commit now looks to have cost the striker a new deal at the club, although United are willing to offer medical support throughout his rehabilitation and not just until his contract expires.

Ibrahimovic has been a revelation for United this season after joining on a free transfer last summer and has played beyond his years and for his career to end in this manner would be a real travesty for a player that has offered the game so much.

In fact, Ibrahimovic’s 17 league goals this season are more than any United player since the start of last season.

For more stats on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, click here to visit his WhoScored player page