Mourinho opens the door for Ibrahimovic's return

Manchester United gaffer Jose Mourinho has revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be offered a new contract when he recovers from injury.

The Portuguese coach has confirmed that the big Swede could make a dramatic return to the Old Trafford when he returns from the ankle injury he picked up last season.

Ibrahimovic was released by Manchester United in May but the club allowed him to continue his rehabilitation at their custody beyond his current contract which expired on the 30th of June.

"its  possible, it's open, of course,' said Mourinho, who face the press for the first time in Los Angeles.

"We want to be honest and open for him to make a decision in case his desire was to leave.

There was not a new contract, but there was space of time for everybody to think, feel and decide.

'From his point of view, he made the decision of wanting to football still at the highest level.

'He didn't want to hide behind such an amazing injury. It would be easy to hide behind it and stop and go to a different level of football. He did not want that.

'He made the challenge for himself to keep playing at the highest level. We opened our door for him to recover with us and at the same time let's make a decision that makes all us happy.

'If that's for him to stay and for us to wait,  let's say until December maybe because I don't think before December he can get back to competitive football, why not wait for a player who gave us so much?.

'We are exchanging ideas and it's with Mr (Ed Woodward and Zlatan's agent but the important thing is the final decision is best for the player.'

The Red devil has splashed £75million on Romelu Lukaku as a direct replacement for the 35 year-old forward, who scored 28 goals in 46 appearances for Manchester United last season.