Manchester United’s newest signing, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will be included in the club’s squad for this season’s Champions League campaign, according to manager Jose Mourinho.
The Swedish striker was of course a member of the United squad last season, playing a crucial part in their cup success as the Red Devils won the League Cup and the Europa League in Mourinho’s first season in charge.
His contract expired with the club, but United have now re-signed the currently injured striker, and he has taken Wayne Rooney’s old number 10 shirt for the new campaign.
Mourinho said: “He will not be ready for the group phase of the Champions League, I don’t think there is any chance of that but we do have space in the list to have him,
“We don’t need to leave any player outside of the list but I’m not thinking Zlatan will play any part of the group phase.”
Ibrahimovic scored 28 goals for United last season before sustaining a cruciate ligament injury which will rule him out until the new year.
Mourinho isn’t worried about the superstar missing the first half of the season, though:
“He will be an extra man for us in the second part of the season.
“When I say the second part I say normally we say January after Christmas. Let him do his work step by step and comeback when he’s ready.”
United were handed a generous group stage draw on Thursday; They will face Benfica, Basel and CSKA Moscow. Mourinho will name his 25-man European squad next week.
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