Patrick Rees
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is all set to return to Manchester United’s training facilities at Carrington on a full-time basis in order to step up his recovery at the end of this month. Sources from ESPN FC have quoted that Zlatan has regularly used United’s training provisions since undergoing the knee surgery back in May, and was even pictured with former Manchester United striker Andy Cole on Thursday.
The source adds that the striker, who recently turned 36, will be “there on a daily basis by the beginning of November” and that he will step up his recovery under the vision of Manchester United’s medical staff. The towering Swede sustained a career-threatening knee injury in Manchester United’s Europa League encounter against Anderlecht last season and quite rightly, missed the rest of the season.
With that being done, Manchester United decided not to renew his contract and was released at the end of the season. However, back in August, United announced that Zlatan had signed a new one-year deal with the club and he was also included in our Champions League squad. The Swede, on his part, is eager to make a quick return, but Freddie Fu Ho-Keung, the doctor who successfully operated the striker’s knee during the summer, had advised the player to take things slowly.
“I am sure Manchester United would not need the player urgently for any crucial game either in the league or European competitions.
“He is very strong but soccer is still a combative sport. As a doctor, of course I want to see him return as slow as possible, only when he is fully fit for the game. There have been many cases of a player returning prematurely with bad consequences.”
It’s not just the doctor, but Mourinho himself advised the big Swede to keep things slow. He said,
“He doesn’t have to be emotional and he doesn’t have to try to make crazy things to improve quicker in his mind. Because I know that his desire is to improve quicker. So [be] calm, [take things] step by step. We want him, but we want him in his best condition.”
Zlatan’s return to the club will undoubtedly be a big boost not just for the manager, but for the players as well; as almost every single player has spoken about Zlatan’s influence outside the pitch. Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo – who sustained a knee ligament injury in the same game as Ibrahimovic, has started training again, but is far from being considered for first-team action.
