MANCHESTER — Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he will not stand if Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s way if the striker wants to join LA Galaxy.
The Swede, 36, will be out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a move to the United States after 18 months at Old Trafford.
He scored 28 goals in his first year in Manchester but has been restricted to just seven appearances so far this season after returning to action following a seven-month lay-off with a knee injury.
Mourinho told a news conference on Monday: “He told me nothing about it. First time I read something about this is was from you, I read from somewhere or saw on some TV channel, he never mentioned that to me so I don’t know.
“Zlatan is in last year of his contract, if, if, if — and he said nothing to it to me — but if, if, if that is true and Zlatan wants a future in another club in another country we are here to help and create conditions to help, not to make his life difficult.
“But the last thing Zlatan told me was he wants to recover totally and help the team.”
Ibrahimovic damaged his knee ligaments in the Europa League quarterfinal with Anderlecht in April before undergoing surgery in the U.S. He returned in November, scoring his first goal of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Bristol City in the Carabao Cup last month.
He started the 2-2 draw with Burnley on Boxing Day but has not played since after picking up another knee problem. He has missed the last six games but Mourinho insists he is on his way back.
Ahead of the visit to Tottenham on Wednesday night, the United manager added: “He is working hard to be fit — I don’t say injured because he is not injured — but he’s trying to be ready for the demands of Premier League football.”
Rob is ESPN FC’s Manchester United correspondent. Follow him on Twitter @RobDawsonESPN.