Mourinho hints at ZIatan brahimovic Signing new contract with Man. Uinted

Man United Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Jose Mourinho has revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic could sign a new contract with Manchester United after he recovers from injury.

Ibrahimovic, 35, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligaments in the April Europa League win over Anderlecht, which scuppered any chances of him signing an immediate extension to stay for a second season.

United's first opponents on their pre-season tour, LA Galaxy, are strongly interested in signing Ibrahimovic on a free transfer but Mourinho suggested Ibrahimovic could play for United again.

"Possible, it's open," Mourinho said. "Of course, we wanted to be honest and open and let everything for him to make the decision in case of his desire was to leave. So there was not a new contract, there was a space of time for everybody to think, feel and decide.

"And from his point of view he made the decision of wanting to play football still at the highest level, he didn't want to hide behind such an amazing injury, it would be easy for him to hide behind it and stop and go to a different level of football, he did not want that, he was not happy with the way he finished the season by not playing and he made the challenge for himself to keep playing at the highest level.

"We open our door for him to recover with us, obviously Old Trafford, Carrington is open for him to recover with our people and be one of us, and at the same time let's make a decision that makes us all happy.

"And if that decision is for him to stay and for us to wait until let's say in December maybe, because I don't think before December he can get back to competitive football, but why not wait for a such a good player who gave us so much?

"We are changing ideas and, again, it's with Mr Woodward and Zlatan's agent, but the important thing is the final decision is the best for the player."

Ibrahimovic netted 28 goals in 46 appearances for United, including winners in the Community Shield and EFL Cup final.

Romelu Lukaku has received Ibrahimovic's number nine shirt and the former Sweden striker signed off his United career earlier this month with the message 'I came. I said. I conquered.'