Injured Ibrahimovic May Be Out Of Action For Rest Of 2017

Ibrahimovic hobbles off the Old Trafford pitch after suffering a season-ending knee injury

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be out for the rest of the year if fears that he has ruptured the cruciate ligament in his right knee are confirmed.

Daily Mail reports that the news would be a huge blow to Manchester United’s hopes of winning the Europa League and finishing in the top-four of the Premier League after the Swedish star scored 28 goals in his first season in English football.

It would also cast some doubt over Ibrahimovic’s prospects of staying at Old Trafford for a second year and extending his playing career beyond his 36th birthday in October.

Earlier this week, Sportsmail revealed that Los Angeles are ready to offer £5million a season for the striker, and their offer still stands. They are happy for Ibrahimovic to do his rehab before the MLS season starts.

The veteran striker landed awkwardly and jarred his knee at the end of normal time in United’s Europa League quarter-final win over Anderlecht on Thursday night.

It’s feared that Ibrahimovic ruptured his ACL and may have sustained other ligament and cartilage damage as well. The layoff for such an injury is between six and nine months.

His season appears to be over along with his hopes of appearing in the final in his native Sweden next month if United win their semi against Celta Vigo.

Marcus Rashford is set to lead the line for the rest of the campaign – starting at Burnley on Sunday – after two man-of-the-match performances against Chelsea and Anderlecht, and Wayne Rooney will come back into contention.
Manager Jose Mourinho also has problems in central defence after Marcos Rojo was carried off against Anderlecht, joining Chris Smalling and Phil Jones on the sidelines.

‘We are in trouble,’ said Mourinho. ‘In this moment, Eric Bailly played six matches in a row, and we lost Marcos Rojo. We don’t have Jones or Smalling.

‘We are in trouble and now we lose Zlatan too. But in attack, we have options and Rooney is coming, and let’s see if (Juan) Mata can also return before the end of the season.’

Speaking of his plans for Burnley less than three days after playing extra-time in Europe, Mourinho added: ‘(Ander) Herrera is fresh to play, Ashley Young is fresh to play and who else? (There is) nobody else to play.’

Rooney now has an opportunity to play a more active role in the final stage of his Old Trafford career.

The England striker has drifted out the first-team frame since breaking United’ s all-time goalscoring record in January, largely due to a succession of injuries and illness.

Rooney returned to the squad after a four-game absence on Thursday night but was an unused substitute after Mourinho chose to use Anthony Martial as Ibrahimovic’s replacement in extra-time.

The United boss later acknowledged that Rooney lacks match sharpness but accepts that he may have to call on the veteran striker in the final games of the season ahead of his expected departure in the summer.