Close menu

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Manchester United striker not offered new contract

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments195

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed the last 10 matches of the season with a knee injury

Manchester United have not offered striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic a new contract and the Swede has been released by the club.

The 35-year-old agreed a one-year contract, with an option for second season, last summer.

But the extension had not been triggered by the time the Swede suffered his season-ending knee ligament injury in April.

The Premier League's retained list was released on Friday.

Former England defender John Terry will be among the high-profile free agents available this summer, following his exit from Chelsea, while Manchester City have already confirmed goalkeeper Willy Caballero, winger Jesus Navas and full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna are to be released.

Midfielder Joey Barton is also looking for a new club after his release from Burnley, although he is serving an 18-month ban for betting offences.

Ibrahimovic made 46 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 28 goals, and helped Jose Mourinho's team lift the Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League trophy.

Analysis

BBC Sport's Simon Stone

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will complete his rehabilitation from cruciate knee ligament surgery at Manchester United's Carrington training complex.

The Swede is out of contract on 30 June and there was no mention of another deal being offered when Ibrahimovic's name appeared on the Premier League released list on Friday afternoon.

That only proved nothing had been offered by 29 May, but it is understood there has been no change to that situation.

However, the fact Ibrahimovic will remain in Manchester to recover from an injury sustained in April and which is not likely to see him play again in 2018, indicates a new United contract is a possibility.

No guarantees have been made by the club though and evidently the extent of the forward's recovery and United's form in the first part of the 2017-18 campaign will be decisive.

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

195 comments

  • Comment posted by Me, at 22:26 8 Jun 2017

    Fair play to Zlatan. He came and did exactly what he said he would - win trophies and get Man Utd into the Champions League again.
    I wish him all the best

  • Comment posted by footy fan, at 22:08 8 Jun 2017

    No guarantee that he would be back fit and before Xmas so offering contract on his wages would have been stupid.

  • Comment posted by vulcanproject, at 22:26 8 Jun 2017

    Impossible to justify 6 months big wages to a player that cannot play, and then when he can play, uncertain if he'll be the same player. The right decision, as good as Ibrahimovic was for United he was never a long term solution. That much was known when he arrived. He certainly proved his doubters wrong even in the time he had in England and won two trophies. Personally he must have satisfaction.

  • Comment posted by Nevereverer, at 22:22 8 Jun 2017

    This is a sensible (if unsentimental) decision. Zlatan is very unlikely to return to his previous form after such an injury at his age. Still, it's been a treat to watch Zlatan in the Premier League this season - as his career went on, I thought it would never happen.

    Now Man Utd need to buy a new main striker as a top priority - Rooney is well past it and Rashford needs more time to develop.

  • Comment posted by Andy, at 22:30 8 Jun 2017

    Such a shame he had such a serious injury at the end of last season. He proved he could cope with the PL, even in his advanced years. Having said that Utd couldn't have gone into a CL campaign with him and Rashford as his only real option, however it would have been interesting to see if he would have been offered a years extension, had he not suffered that injury.

  • Comment posted by User0142420121, at 22:09 8 Jun 2017

    @4 as much as I hate Man U - Pogba is not an attacking midfielder.He's box to box and his strength isn't goal scoring.United look a much better team with him than without him.His strength and athleticism will prove him not to be a waste of money.Personally I think he's had a good dolid season but there is world class potential there

  • Comment posted by Laputa, at 18:05 9 Jun 2017

    @61

    Hey, lay off Jesse Lingard. It takes time and patience to develop your own players...which is probably why Manchester City doesn't bother.

  • Comment posted by TEXFITS, at 17:45 9 Jun 2017

    "45. Posted by Tony Fadge is a codpiece on
    Just now
    As ludicrous a decision as letting Hernandez go, a guaranteed goal-scorer. Proof Jose is completely mental"

    It was LVG that let Hernandez go

  • Comment posted by Normal Bloke, at 10:00 10 Jun 2017

    He's on a very big wage and (unless this has been updated and I've missed it) expected to be out until Christmas.

    Doesn't make a lot of sense to sign someone up for one season (on that kind of money), knowing that they'll miss more-or-less half of it.

    Great player and I'm so glad he stopped by for a season at Old Trafford.

  • Comment posted by User0798468455, at 18:45 9 Jun 2017

    Shame to read this!! Man Utd should treat their secondary heroes with respect.. Exactly how Liverpool do with their primarily ones!!

    Dalgliesh - sacked
    Gerrard - Shipped off early
    Shankly - Locked out and sent to Everton in old age.

  • Comment posted by PaulTG, at 22:29 9 Jun 2017

    Reading some of the drivel on here is frightening, to think some of these morons are entitled to vote in a general election.

  • Comment posted by User0767546471, at 18:13 9 Jun 2017

    61Alexis Sanchez

    Not even the biggest club in manchester??? City have 12 titles lol even villa have more titles than them, and with fraudiola in charge they will still be on 12 at the end of next season. Do us all a favour and come back when you have something decent to say

  • Comment posted by Champ20ns, at 22:21 8 Jun 2017

    You can always tell the ABU's are crawling out the woodwork when Pogba and Rooney start getting mentioned. 300k a week, 90 million spent blah blah blah.

    On topic, keeping him is daft with his injury. Kinda a shame but he was 35.

  • Comment posted by lewlil, at 18:31 9 Jun 2017

    i never really rated Ibra until i saw him play in the Carling cup final. He was the difference between winning and losing that game.

    However America seems like the most likely destination now as he should be back from injury in time for their season starting.

    Man utd will miss him.

  • Comment posted by User0452243000, at 08:46 10 Jun 2017

    Zlat has a serious injury and was paid up to the end of his contract. It was he who suggested that a new contract should not be offered/taken until he can prove his fitness and start training again. United offered full use of their facilities to affect this.

    If/when he is fit again a new deal could be negotiated, wth United, or any other club for that matter.

    It's all very straightforward.

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 19:33 9 Jun 2017

    I'm very grateful to Zlatan for everything this year, it was a privilege to have him at United. Unfortunately, 300k+ a week for six months for a player who might not return is a massive gamble. If he does return there will be no shortage of offers.

  • Comment posted by D1679088608067, at 22:25 8 Jun 2017

    It's a shame but makes sense, I want to see Rashford and Lingard play more together. Player synergy is often overlooked in favour of big names these days.

  • Comment posted by JonH, at 01:55 10 Jun 2017

    One of the most entertaining and skillful players in the Prem. I would be sorry to see him go.

  • Comment posted by User0767546471, at 17:39 9 Jun 2017

    Makes sense not to renew a contract if there is a possibility he might not recover fully, No doubt the obsessed haters will have a comment to make lol.
    We had good use out of him now its time to move on

  • Comment posted by SW1701, at 17:52 9 Jun 2017

    I dont think many people get the point, theres no point in renewing his contract for another year, still paying him God knows how much money a week, and him not playing a single match until December.

Elsewhere on the BBC