Man Utd EXCLUSIVE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave following injury

SUPERSTAR Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played his last game for Manchester United.

Posted Sunday, June 04, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

Man Utd EXCLUSIVE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to leave following injury
Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks set to leave

Starsport can reveal the Old Trafford outfit are not taking up the option of a second year for the Swedish striker amid concerns over the seriousness of his knee injury.

The 35-year-old tore his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in April and had surgery in the United States last month.

At first it was feared the damage was so bad he would never play top-flight football again.

But despite Ibrahimovic targeting a return before Christmas, United boss Jose Mourinho has opted not to take a gamble on him returning to the form which saw him have a sensational impact at the club.

A source close to Mourinho said: “The injury is the principle reason for the decision.”

Ibrahimovic became an instant hero at United, scoring four times in his first three appearances before going on to end the season with 28 goals.

The final image of Ibrahimovic at a Manchester United game will now be of him throwing away his crutches to join in the celebrations after the 2-0 Europa League Cup Final in Stockholm.

The Red Devils have cooled their interest in Antoine Griezmann as they look to bring in an out and out striker to replace Ibrahimovic.

Mourinho is eager to be reunited with Romelu Lukaku at Old Trafford despite selling the Belgian to Everton during his second spell in charge of Chelsea.

But he is also a keen admirer of Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Torino hitman Andrea Belotti.

That trio of strikers also feature highly on Chelsea’s summer shopping list.

And any move for Morata by United could be complicated by their unwillingness to entertain offers for goalkeeper David De Gea from Real.

United and their Spanish counterparts fell out in spectacular fashion two years ago when the Spain international's move to the Santiago Bernabeu collapsed at the 11th hour.

Blocking a move for De Gea could also scupper a move for Real defender Raphael Varane.

That could see Mourinho turn his attention to England and Burnley defender Michael Keane, a United youth team product.

Benfica’s Victor Lindelof is another option after he came close to joining the Red Devils last season.