After an extended period off this summer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived in England on Tuesday and is expected to join Manchester United training on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old represented Sweden at Euro 2016, and despite their group-stage elimination, he was handed extra time off by Jose Mourinho compared to his new team-mates as they began pre-season preparations.
It is claimed by The Sun that the former AC Milan and Barcelona forward will now look to sort out his living arrangements in the more immediate future, while he will report for duty at Carrington on Wednesday as he looks to get his pre-season underway.
Zlatan Ibrahimovich FINALLY arrives in Manchester as he gears up for first training session https://t.co/OZaCXVUeVU pic.twitter.com/t5DtzzrMMq
— The Sun Football (@TheSunFootball) 26 July 2016
His presence will undoubtedly be a major boost for the squad, particularly after the nightmare that they have experienced in the last week or so.
After losing 4-1 to Borussia Dortmund, the Red Devils saw their derby with Manchester City in Beijing cancelled on Monday due to the state of the pitch at the stadium following bad weather.
Mourinho and his squad returned to Manchester airport at 5am on Tuesday morning, but according to The Sun, the Portuguese tactician ordered them straight to the training ground.
The report adds that the United players were put through an extensive warm down at 6.30am as concerns continue to grow over their lack of fitness and match sharpness.
It’s certainly a frustrating and unwanted set of circumstances for the ‘Special One’ who will undoubtedly bemoan the disrupted pre-season schedule thus far. Given that it’s a crucial part to his side making a quick start to the campaign, it certainly puts them back in terms of preparation which is the last thing he would have wanted.
United are set to play Galatasaray at the end of the month with Ibrahimovic potentially making his debut for the club, before Wayne Rooney’s testimonial against Everton on August 3.
The Premier League giants will then face Leicester City in the Community Shield on August 7, with their league campaign kicking off a week later against Bournemouth.